Palmeiras, owned by Portuguese coach Abel Ferreira, came very close to the title after hosting and beating Fluminense 1-0 in the 37th and penultimate round of the Brazilian football competition.
With this victory, Abel’s team will reach the final round, needing only a draw to clinch their second title away to Cruzeiro.
With a three-point lead over Flamengo and Atlético Mineiro, in a group in which Botafogo can still join, Palmeiras could even lose in Belo Horizonte and still celebrate the title, as only a defeat suffered, or a defeat was carried out by their rivals, could endanger the conquest.
Against Fluminense, recent winners of the Copa Libertadores, a goal from Breno Lopes in the 30th minute was enough to give Abel Ferreira the victory, in a match where the outsiders were reduced to 10 due to the expulsion of Lucas Justen, at 54.
At the same time, Flamengo defeated Cuiabá at home, run by another Portuguese coach, in this case António Oliveira, and went into the final round still with mathematical possibilities to win the Brasileirão.
Luís Araújo, after five minutes, and Pedro, at 45+4, scored Flamengo’s goals, while Clayson went back to 79 after a penalty in left back Filipe Luís’ last game at the Maracanã.
Cuiabá, which was already undergoing maintenance, remains in 12th place, the last to allow access to the South American races.
Source: DN
