After a couple of weeks with limited league action, and just one fixture last week that saw Corinthians edge out Athletico Paranaense in a 2-1 victory, the Brasileirao returned following State Championship and Copa Libertadores commitments for several sides.
With Libertadores and Recopa Sudamericana matches taking priority for some clubs, this round of the Brasileirao featured only seven fixtures instead of the usual full slate, but it certainly did not lack drama.
Despite there being only seven fixtures played this round, the action did not slow down, producing four red cards and 16 goals across the matchweek.
Remo 1-1 Internacional
Remo hosted Internacional, coming into the match unbeaten in their last nine games in all competitions. However, only three of those had ended in victory, and their start to the Brasileirao had brought two draws, meaning they were still searching for their first win back in the top flight.
Internacional arrived with mixed momentum. They hey had recorded a dominant 7-0 aggregate victory over Ypiranga in the Campeonato Gaucho, but their league form told a different story, as they were winless from their opening three matches.
It was the away side who made the brighter start. Inside five minutes, Alan Patrick showed neat footwork inside the area before calmly finishing to give Internacional an early 1-0 lead.
Remo responded quickly. A strike from Joao Pedro caused chaos in the Internacional box, with goalkeeper Sergio Rochet making a costly error that allowed Leonel Picco to capitalise and fire the hosts back level.
Those two early moments proved decisive. Despite both sides pushing for a breakthrough, the remainder of the match failed to produce another goal, and it ended 1-1.
The result means both teams are still searching for their first league victory after four matches. Internacional sit in the bottom four, while Remo remain just one point above them, with work still to do early in the campaign.
Bragantino 1-1 Athletico Paranaense
Kicking off at the same time was the clash between Bragantino and Athletico Paranaense, a fixture that carried a bit of recent history after their meeting in the 2021 Copa Sudamericana final, which Athletico edged 1-0.
Both sides came into the game with two wins and one defeat from their opening three matches, marking solid starts to the campaign and setting up what looked like an evenly matched contest.
The first half produced chances at both ends, with neither side truly dominating proceedings. However, just before the interval, Juninho Capixaba struck from a free kick just before half-time, bending his effort beyond the wall and into the back of the net to hand the Red Bull club a 1-0 lead heading into the interval.
However, moments into the second half, things began to unravel for Bragantino as Fabinho was shown a second yellow card and sent off, leaving the hosts down to ten men.
Furacao immediately sensed the momentum shift and began to push forward in search of an equaliser. Their pressure eventually told in the 78th minute when striker Julimar found the net. In what were dreadful conditions, with heavy rain pouring down at the stadium, he applied a composed and clinical finish to bring the visitors level.
The drama did not end there.
Bragantino’s evening went from difficult to chaotic when Alex Vinicius was also shown a second yellow card, reducing the hosts to nine men for the closing stages.
Despite being two men down and under immense pressure in the driving rain, Red Bull Bragantino somehow managed to hold on and secure a hard-fought point.
Coritiba 0-1 Sao Paulo
Coritiba came into the match with one win, one draw and one defeat from their opening three fixtures as they took on a Sao Paulo side who had won two and drawn one to begin their campaign.
The hosts were looking to bounce back after a shock defeat to Operário in the Campeonato Paranaense, while Sao Paulo arrived full of confidence, riding a four-match winning streak in all competitions, including an impressive 2-1 victory away at Red Bull Bragantino in the Paulista.
It was the away side who ultimately took all three points, thanks to a Cauly penalty in the second half.
Despite Coritiba registering 18 shots compared to Sao Paulo’s nine, it was very much a case of quantity over quality. Many of their efforts were speculative, shoot-on-sight attempts, and they managed to test the goalkeeper just twice across the entire match.
The result sees Sao Paulo climb into second place, level on points with fellow Paulista rivals Palmeiras, while Coritiba remain down in 12th, with inconsistency continuing to define their start to the season.
Cruzeiro 1-1 Corinthians
Cruzeiro’s start to the season had been below their usual standards, picking up just one point from their opening three matches after two defeats and a draw.
Corinthians, on the other hand, had responded well to their opening-day defeat to Bahia, bouncing back with two consecutive league victories to steady the ship.
In state championship action, Cruzeiro enjoyed a 2-1 victory over Pouso Alegre, while Corinthians needed penalties to overcome Portuguesa and book their place in the next round of the Campeonato Paulista.
It was the home side who made the brighter start in this one.
A Matheus Pereira strike from the edge of the box beat Hugo Souza to fire the hosts into a 1-0 lead early on.
Cruzeiro had the better of the first half, controlling large spells, while Timao managed to register just one shot on target before the break. Kaio Jorge thought he had doubled the advantage in the 40th minute when he found the back of the net, but the effort was ruled out for offside.
As the game entered the final 10 minutes, Cruzeiro were still holding onto their slender lead. However, their task became far more difficult when William Furtado was shown a second yellow card and sent off, leaving the hosts down to ten men.
Corinthians capitalised almost immediately. Just two minutes later, Joao Pedro rose highest from a corner to head home the equaliser, punishing Cruzeiro’s numerical disadvantage and swinging the momentum late on.
In truth, the side from Belo Horizonte had created the better chances across the match, but Corinthians’ efficiency from a set piece ultimately denied them all three points.
The result means Cruzeiro remain in the bottom four, while Corinthians sit third in the table.
Palmeiras 2-1 Fluminense
One of the standout fixtures of the week saw Palmeiras take on Fluminense in a classic Sao Paulo v Rio de Janeiro encounter.
It was Palmeiras who flew out of the blocks. A confidently taken penalty from Vitor Roque, followed by a well-worked finish from Allan, put the hosts 2-0 up and firmly in control.
Fluminense did respond just before the break, pulling one back through Luciano Acosta, giving themselves a lifeline heading into the second half. However, that goal ultimately proved to be nothing more than consolation.
The visitors created chances after the interval, but they could not find a way past Carlos Miguel, who produced a composed and assured performance between the sticks to preserve Palmeiras’ advantage.
The match also saw former Wolves man Jhon Arias feature against his former club, coming on as a substitute in the second half.
The victory keeps Palmeiras top of the Brasileirao after four rounds, unbeaten with three wins and one draw. Flu, meanwhile, sit fifth with two wins, one draw and one defeat to their name.
Gremio 2-1 Atletico Mineiro
The last meetings between the sides had favoured Gremio, who secured a 3-1 victory away from home as well as a 2-1 win on their own patch in 2025, so confidence was already on their side heading into this clash.
The side from Porto Alegre were handed a huge advantage early on when a reckless scissor challenge from Natanael forced referee Rafael Claus to consult the VAR screen. After reviewing the incident, Claus produced a straight red card, leaving Atletico Mineiro to play the majority of the match with ten men.
As expected, Gremio began to dominate possession and territory, but it took until the second half for the breakthrough to arrive. The opener came via a powerful header, as Erick Noriega rose highest to meet a dangerous free kick and steer the ball into the back of the net.
However, the lead did not last long.
Just five minutes later, Atletico Mineiro responded. Goalkeeper Everson launched a long, precise ball forward that split the defence, allowing Victor Hugo to latch onto it and finish confidently to level the score.
It was a superb assist from the goalkeeper, turning defence into attack in an instant and bringing the visitors straight back into the contest.
However, the decisive moment of the match arrived in the 66th minute when Marlon unleashed an absolute rocket from the edge of the box, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance and firing Gremio into a 2-1 lead.
It was a goal worthy of winning any game, and it ensured their numerical advantage finally counted.
Gremio held firm in the closing stages to secure their second victory of the season. The result lifts them to eighth after four matches.
For Atletico Mineiro, the frustration continues. They remain without a win, sitting 17th in the table with two draws and two defeats, and firmly inside the drop zone early in the campaign.
Santos 2-1 Vasco da Gama
Santos v Vasco da Gama saw Neymar return to Brasileirao action following his ankle injury, which had kept him out for the majority of matches so far this year.
He had made his comeback in the state championship against Velo Club, where he provided an assist, before completing his first full 90 minutes against Gremio Novorizontino. However, his real statement performance came here against Vasco.
Inside 25 minutes, he opened the scoring for Peixe with a composed and classy finish into the bottom corner, giving Santos the perfect start and instantly lifting the atmosphere
Vasco did manage to pull themselves level just before half-time, when Juan Barros finished off a well-worked move from the side from Rio de Janeiro to make it 1-1 heading into the break.
However, it turned out to be Neymar’s day.
In the second half, he capitalised on some poor defending from the Rio club, finding himself one-on-one with goalkeeper Leo Jardim. With the composure that has defined his career, Neymar produced a delicate dink over the onrushing keeper to restore Santos’ lead and ultimately secure all three points.
It was Santos’ first victory of the Brasileirao campaign, lifting them up to 13th in the table.
For Santos, the biggest positive was not just the result, but the return of Neymar. With the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, he will be hoping to build momentum, put together a run of consistent performances, and force his way firmly into the final squad picture.