Rio De Janeiro - Xinhua
Corinthians kept the first place at the Brazilian Championship after beating Ceara 1-0 in the 35th round. The team has 64 points and has a two-point advantage over second place Vasco da Gama which tied Palmeiras 1-1. After a thrilling 9-goal game, Fluminense secures third place with 59 points after beating Gremio 5-4. Due to its scoreless draw against Flamengo, Figueirense remains in a surprising fourth place with 57 points, trailed by Flamengo with 56 points. Due to its disappointing 2-1 loss against America-MG that ended up costing head coach Caio Junior his job, Botafogo dropped to sixth place with 55 points. Internacional holds strong to seventh place with 54 points after a 1-0 win over Bahia. Despite a 1-0 loss to Atletico-PR, Sao Paulo remains in eighth place with 53 points and will likely miss out on the Libertadores Cup for its unprecedented second-straight year. Santos tied 1-1 at home against Atletico-GO and remains in ninth place with 52 points. Coritiba continues in 10th place with 51 points due to its 2-1 loss against Atletico-MG. Gremio remains in 11th place with 47 points, trailed by Atletico-GO in 12th place. Palmeiras falls to 13th place with 43 points, followed by Atletico-MG with 42 points. Bahia follows in 15th place with 42 points and Cruzeiro holds to 16th place with 38 points after a scoreless draw against Avai. The bottom four teams belong to 17th place Atletico-PR with 37 points, 18th place Ceara with 35 points, 19th place America-MG with 34 points and 20th place Avai with 30 points.