We have a new leader.
Flamengo have risen to the top after several weeks of strong performances. With Corinthians being held on their travels by a resurgent At Para, who are 19th in the table, Flamengo have seized the initiative to leapfrog their rivals and ascend to the top of the league standings.
In a pivotal week, a new leader has emerged and on this form, may now break free of the pack altogether. With Vasco also losing, there is a gap between the top three and the rest of the table as well.
Santos finally won as well and are now out of the relegation zone but not yet clear of the relegation scrap.
Week 15 was played over the recent weekend with all 20 teams in action in 10 matches.
Saturday saw three games played.
First Palmeiras and Gremio played out a goalless draw that does neither any good. Luiz Felipe Scolari's team were unable to build on their home advantage and superior possession to break down a dogged Gremio side. Palmeiras have now drawn two games in a row and drop to fifth while Gremio, winless in five rounds, fall to 15th.
Jael's 90th minute winner gave Flamengo a lucky 1-0 over Coritiba at home. The crucial win gave Fla the three points required to make it to the top of the table, for at least a day, as they awaited Corinthians game later on Sunday. With Tite's side unable to take back the lead, Flamengo led outright, despite having played a game more.
Finally, in the late game on Saturday, an Elias double gave Figueirense an impressive away win over Atletico Mineiro. Dudu Cearense pulled one back for the Belo Horizonte side. Mineiro have won once in their last five games and move down to 14th while Fig move up to 8th spot, with 22 points. This was their second win in a row and they have lost once in their last five matches.
Sunday's action saw the remaining 14 teams take the field.
Santos got things started with a welcome win over Ceara, at home. Leading striker Borges scored his eighth goal of the campaign to give his team a much needed three points and boost to get them back up the table.
At Para held erstwhile leaders Corinthians to a draw in a game of two penalties. Cleber Santana's opener being cancelled by Alex, also from the spot. As a result Corinthians could only close to a point behind Flamengo.
America Mineiro scored an impressive win at home with a resounding 3-0 thrashing of Fluminense. Rodriguinho, Alessandro, with a penalty and Marcos Rocha scored for America while Gum picked up a red card for two dangerous challenges in the 71st minute for the visitors. Despite the win America remain bottom of the table while Flu are ninth.
Internacional and Cruzeiro played out a thrilling game with the home side winning 3-2 in Porto Allegre. While Cru got on the board first with Anselmo Ramon, three goals from Andrezinho, Andres D'Alessandro and Leandro Damiao gave back Inter the advantage. Leandro Guerreiro pulled one back for Cru at the death. Inter remain seventh while Cru fall to 11th with their fourth defeat in a row.
Sao Paulo refuse to go away and pulled out a gutsy 2-1 win at Avai. After William gave the home side the lead, Cicero scored twice to give Sao Paulo a league leading sixth away victory. They remain in Corinthians and Flamengo's slipstream with 31 points in third place, a couple of points behind Flamengo and just one behind Corinthians. Avai are 18th.
Bahia beat At Go 2-1 at home with Jobson and Fahel scoring to edge out Juninho's strike. Bahia rise to 13th while the latter fall back into the drop zone in 17th.
Finally, in the game of the round, Botafogo crushed Vasco Da Gama 4-0 at home in a top of the table Rio derby that saw fourth play sixth. Antonio Carlos got things started for The Fire, before El Loco Sebastian Abreu with a double and German Gustavo Herrera completed the rout. The win was as emphatic as it was crucial, keeping Botafogo in touch with the top end of the table, just a couple of points behind both Palmeiras in fifth and Vasco in fourth.
Easily the result of the round.
If Santos beat Corinthians at home, in the midweek fixture, Flamengo's lead will be outright, without the extra game played.
Ronaldinho still leads are strikers with nine goals, followed by Santos' Borges with eight.
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Flamengo are still the only unbeaten club.
The bottom 10 sides are separated by seven points.
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At least the top 13 sides will qualify for continental competition next spring while the bottom four teams will get relegated to the 2012 Serie B. Santos added to the four spots the league gets in the 2012 Copa Libertadores by winning this year's edition.
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Vasco Da Gama, who won the Copa Do Brasil, have booked a spot at the 2012 Copa Libertadores.
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