Santos struggle but stay top

André on target for Santos

Second-half goals from André and Giovanni earned Santos all the points against a plucky Rio Claro on Sunday.

Santos were clearly suffering from a carnaval hangover throughout most of the match and went behind to relegation-threatened Rio Claro late in the first period when Jefferson hit home from close range.

Robinho and co were a shadow of the side that played so well against São Paulo last weekend. In the end, it took two good runs from Neymar and a large slice of luck in front of goal for Santos to claim the points. See the highlights (to come)

The result left Santos two points clear of Botafogo who held Palmeiras 1-1 on Saturday. Willian had given the home team an early lead. Léo grabbed the equalizer late in the second-half. See the highlights

Santo André are 3^rd following a 2-1 home win over Mirassol.  

Right behind are Corinthians who could only manage a 1-1 draw away to Portuguesa. Corinthians keeper, Felipe, made yet another howler and it’s worth seeing the match just for his schoolboy error. See the highlights

Even with Cicinho making his first start for the Tricolor, São Paulo struggled in the heat of Itu against Ituano. Rogério Ceni’s 87^th career goal settled the affair after Marlos went down very easily under Simão’s challenge. See the highlights

Mogi Mirim, Sertãozinho, Rio Claro and Monte Azul occupy the bottom four places.

See the Campeonato Paulista round 8 table and the rest of the results here