In a crucial Round 20 of the season, Flamengo remains in the hunt for the top spot alongside Botafogo and Palmeiras, while Fluminense, Gremio, and Corinthians strive to avoid relegation to Serie B.

Palmeiras 0-2 Vitoria

Vitória, currently at the bottom of the table, stunned Palmeiras with a 2-0 victory. Osvaldo (53′) and Matheuzinho (84′) scored the goals, ending Vitória’s four-game losing streak. Despite the setback, Palmeiras remain four points behind Flamengo and Botafogo.

Juventude 1-2 Criciúma

In a closely contested match, Criciúma secured a 2-1 victory over Juventude. Congolese striker Yassine Bolasie delivered a stellar performance, scoring both goals (58′, 83′) and positioning his team for next year’s international competition.

Bahia 1-1 Internacional

Bahia sought to break into the top five as they hosted Internacional at Itaipava Arena Fonte Nova. The visitors aimed to end a nine-game winless streak. David Duarte’s header in the 13th minute gave Bahia the lead, but Rafael Santos Borré equalized late in the game (78′). The draw left Bahia just outside the Copa Libertadores places, while Internacional’s winless run continued.

Fortaleza 1-0 São Paulo

Renato Kayzer’s early penalty in the fifth minute sealed a 1-0 victory for Fortaleza over São Paulo. This result moved Fortaleza into the top four of the Brasileirao. São Paulo, on the other hand, missed a crucial opportunity to distance themselves from Bahia, extending their winless streak to three games.

Botafogo 0-3 Cruzeiro

Cruzeiro delivered a stunning 3-0 defeat to league leaders Botafogo, in what was anticipated to be the most exciting match of the round. Despite Botafogo’s eight-game unbeaten streak, Cruzeiro dominated with goals from William Furtado (14′), and Argentinians Lautaro Díaz (37′) and Álvaro Barreal (77′). Goalkeeper Cassió also played a key role by keeping a clean sheet.

RB Bragantino 0-1 Fluminense

Fluminense continued their strong form with a 1-0 win over Bragantino, thanks to a goal by Kaua Elias just before halftime. This victory marked Fluminense’s third consecutive win, bolstering their hopes of avoiding relegation. Since the arrival of defender Thiago Silva, Fluminense have won all three of their matches without conceding a goal.

Flamengo 2-0 Atlético Goianiense

Flamengo drew level on points with Botafogo after a 2-0 victory over Atlético Goianiense at home. Uruguayan Giorgian de Arrascaeta shined once again, contributing a goal and an assist, while Pedro added the second goal.

Gremio 1-0 Vasco Da Gama

Gremio, one of the big teams in danger of relegation, managed to climb out of the relegation zone with a 1-0 victory over Vasco Da Gama. Venezuelan Yeferson Soteldo scored the only goal of the match. Despite limited attacking success, Gremio capitalized on one of their two shots on target to secure the win.

Cuiabá 1-2 Athletico Paranaense

Cuiabá extended their losing streak to three with a 2-1 home loss to Athletico Paranaense. Julimar scored early for the visitors (11′), and Lucas Di Yorio equalized in the 90th minute. However, Deyverson netted the decisive goal in the 97th minute. A disallowed goal by VAR in the 73rd minute for Cuiabá could have changed the outcome.

Atlético Mineiro 2-1 Corinthians

Atlético Mineiro edged out Corinthians 2-1, with Hulk scoring both goals from the penalty spot (32′, 85′). Despite Yuri Alberto’s equalizer (39′), and Lyanco’s late red card, Atlético Mineiro held on for a crucial win, maintaining their position around mid-table.

The Playbook is powered by data from Genius Sports and will focus on Brazil Serie A throughout the 2024 season.