Palmeiras Surrender Brasileirão Lead to Flamengo

The Brasileirão changed leaders after Palmeiras stumbled in Rio de Janeiro and Flamengo seized the chance to move top for the first time this season.

Palmeiras could manage only a 0-0 draw away to Botafogo in heavy rain. The visitors controlled possession but lacked depth and accuracy in the final third, while Botafogo created the clearer chances. Paraguayan captain Gustavo Gómez played the full match, and compatriot Maurício Magalhães went off in the 63rd minute as Palmeiras brought on Colombian Jhon Arias to try to revive the attack.

“Much remains to be played. Today we played well and controlled the game, but we could not score, because we deserved to,” Gómez said after the final whistle.

Flamengo had done its part earlier, edging Remo 1-0 through Samuel Lino’s 65th-minute goal, assisted by Uruguay’s Giorgian De Arrascaeta. The result put the defending champion on 54 points, one ahead of Palmeiras after the latter’s 19-round run at the top. Both clubs now travel to Ecuador for the Copa Libertadores quarterfinals. Palmeiras faces LDU on Wednesday, while Flamengo visits Independiente del Valle the following day.

At the other end of the table, Remo dropped to second-last with 23 points, while Botafogo sits 13th, six points clear of relegation. Santos also earned a vital result, beating Inter Porto Alegre 3-2 despite the absence of injured Neymar. Gabigol scored twice for Santos, while Inter’s early dismissal of Matheus Bahia in the 28th minute left the visitors with a major disadvantage. The defeat added pressure on Uruguay coach Paulo Pezzolano after Inter’s elimination from the Brazilian Cup by city rival Gremio the previous Thursday.

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Much remains to be played. Today we played well and controlled the game, but we could not score, because we deserved to.