With each passing matchweek, the Brasileirao continues to grow in drama and intensity.
The latest round delivered once again, serving up epic fightbacks, late equalisers, and a return to winning ways for the defending champions.
Vitoria 1-2 Flamengo
Kicking off the matchweek were defending champions Flamengo, who travelled to take on Vitoria away from home. Vitoria is never an easy place to go, although Flamengo enjoyed strong results in this fixture last season, winning 2-1 away before recording an emphatic 8-0 victory in the reverse league match.
This time, however, it was much closer, even if Flamengo controlled large spells of the game. Erick Pulgar opened the scoring inside 15 minutes with a thunder strike. Everton doubled the lead just before half-time.
The second half told a slightly different story. Matheusinho pulled one back for Vitoria, setting up a tense finish. Renato Kayzer then had the chance to equalise from the penalty spot, but Rossi’s save ensured Flamengo held on to secure their first win of the campaign.
After three matches, Flamengo now sit with one win, one draw and one defeat. Vitoria, meanwhile, have won one and lost two following their opening-day 2-0 victory over Remo.
Atletico Mineiro 3-3 Remo
Atletico Mineiro hosted newly promoted Remo in a six-goal thriller, with both sides entering the match in search of their first win of the season.
It was the hosts who made the stronger start, as Hulk applied a simple finish to put Atletico 1-0 ahead.
However, just moments before half-time, Vitor Bueno struck to send the sides into the break level.
Atletico restored their lead in the second half when a Hulk delivery found the head of Ruan Tressoldi, who powered home a superb header with 20 minutes remaining.
Then, with just three minutes remaining, Remo sparked the game into life when Yago Pikachu unleashed a stunning strike that flew past Everson into the top corner.
Moments later, another lapse in the Atletico backline was punished as Remo turned the match on its head, firing themselves into a 3-2 lead out of nowhere, with Patrick de Paula providing two key assists in the comeback.
However, Remo could not hold on. In the 98th minute, Dudu reacted quickest inside the box to salvage a point for Galo.
In the end, both sides were forced to settle for a draw and remain in search of their first win of the campaign.
The draw proved to be the final straw for Jorge Sampaoli at Atletico as he was dismissed shortly after the result.
Chapecoense 3-3 Coritiba
Chapecoense and Coritiba faced off in a meeting between two sides who were playing Serie B football last season.
In last year’s fixtures, Coritiba claimed a 2-1 victory away at Chapecoense before the sides played out a 0-0 draw in Parana in August.
This time, it was the visitors who struck first, as Breno Lopes put Coritiba ahead just before half-time, and it looked as though they would head into the break with the advantage.
However, Paraguayan forward Walter Clar stepped up once again, scoring his second league goal of the season to level the match.
The second half saw Coritiba regain control as Breno Lopes grabbed his second of the match following a well-worked corner routine that Chapecoense failed to clear.
Pedro Rocha then made it 3-1 with 19 minutes remaining, putting Coritiba firmly in command.
However, Chapecoense refused to give in. Eduardo Doma reduced the deficit to spark hope before, in the dying moments, Clar was involved yet again, this time providing the assist for Rubens Ricoldi to level the match and send the home supporters wild.
It was another dramatic 3-3 draw in the Brasileirao this week.
Chapecoense remain unbeaten with one win and two draws, while Coritiba now sit with one win, one draw and one defeat from their opening three matches.
Mirassol 2-2 Cruzeiro
Mirassol are now unbeaten in their last 21 home matches in the Brasileirao Serie A. In fact, to put it into context, they have never lost a top-flight match on home soil.
That record looked to be under threat when Wanderson gave Cruzeiro the lead inside 23 minutes. However, Nathan Fogaca responded seven minutes before half-time to bring the hosts level.
In the second half, Negueba fired Mirassol into a 2-1 lead, but an 85th-minute penalty from Kaio Jorge ensured the match finished all square.
To make matters worse for Mirassol, Yuri Lara was shown a red card late on for a dangerous tackle.
The result means Mirassol remain unbeaten after three matches, with one win and two draws.
Cruzeiro, meanwhile, are still searching for their first victory of the campaign, having lost two and drawn one, although the point does represent Raposa’s first of the season.
Vasco da Gama 0-1 Bahia
It was another frustrating evening for Fernando Diniz and Vasco da Gama, with the manager’s position growing increasingly unstable amid a poor run of form. Vasco have now managed just three wins in their last nine matches in all competitions.
Despite a 2-0 victory in the Carioca at the weekend, they were unable to build momentum as they fell to a 1-0 defeat against Bahia. Vasco dominated possession and created more chances, but the only statistic that mattered was the scoreline.
A first-half strike from Luciano Juba proved decisive, securing all three points for Bahia.
The result leaves Bahia unbeaten with two wins from their opening three matches, while Vasco sit 17th in the table with one draw and two defeats.
Vasco will hope for a swift improvement in the coming weeks, while Bahia will aim to build on what has been a strong start to the campaign.
Sao Paulo 2-0 Gremio
São Paulo FC and Grêmio met at the Estádio do Morumbi with both sides aiming to extend their unbeaten runs.
Gremio arrived in Sao Paulo on the back of a 1-0 victory over Novo Hamburgo in the Gaúcho State Championship, a result that stretched their unbeaten sequence to three matches. Sao Paulo, meanwhile, were also buoyed by state championship success, having secured a 2-1 win against Primavera.
It was the hosts who made the brighter start. In the 24th minute, Lucas Moura calmly converted from the penalty spot to hand São Paulo the advantage and ignite the Morumbi crowd.
However, the major turning point of the evening came either side of the interval. Wagner Leonardo was shown a yellow card in the closing moments of the first half, and just two minutes after the restart, he received a second booking.
The quick-fire dismissal left his side down to ten men for virtually the entirety of the second half, dramatically shifting the momentum of the contest.
With Grêmio reduced to ten men, Sao Paulo FC made their numerical advantage count.
Jonathan Calleri capitalised, finishing confidently after being teed up by Luciano to put further daylight between the sides.
Sao Paulo were then handed the opportunity to extend their lead further when Luciano stepped up from the penalty spot. However, the forward was denied by Grêmio goalkeeper Weverton, who produced a strong save to prevent the deficit from growing.
Despite the missed penalty, the result was enough to maintain Sao Paulo’s impressive start to the campaign.
They now sit second in the Brasileirão table with two wins and a draw from their opening three matches. Gremio, meanwhile, have one win and two defeats, as disciplinary issues ultimately proved costly on the night.
Athletico Paranaense 2-1 Santos
Athletico Paranaense welcomed Santos to the Arena da Baixada, knowing recent history was on their side. The hosts had been unbeaten in their previous two meetings with Santos, including a commanding 3-0 home victory in their most recent battle in December 2023.
They made the perfect start once again. Inside six minutes, Julimar calmly converted from the penalty spot to give Athletico an early 1-0 lead and set the tone for the evening.
Santos responded quickly, however, with Thaciano levelling the contest just 11 minutes later to ensure the visitors remained firmly in the game.
From that point on, Athletico were the more dominant side. They controlled possession, dictated the tempo and created clearer chances, consistently applying pressure as the match progressed.
Their persistence was rewarded in dramatic fashion. In the very last minute, Colombian forward Kevin Viveros found the net to seal a crucial 2-1 victory, ensuring Athletico claimed all three points in front of their home support.
The victory means Athletico remain unbeaten with two wins from two, having not played last week due to their postponed fixture against Corinthians. They are now the only side in the Brasileirao with a 100% record.
Santos, meanwhile, are still searching for their first win of the campaign, with one draw and two defeats from their opening three matches. They will be eagerly awaiting the return of Neymar in the hope that he can spark their season into life.
Fluminense 1-0 Botafogo
Fluminense and Botafogo met in a fiery derby that more than lived up to expectations, producing nine yellow cards and a red in a typically heated encounter.
It was their second clash of the year. Fluminense had edged the previous contest 1-0 in the Carioca thanks to a John Kennedy goal, and history repeated itself once again.
Fluminense prevailed by the same scoreline, this time courtesy of a second-half strike from Luciano Acosta. In what was a tightly contested affair.
It was a lovely goal from Acosta, who capitalised on a mistake from the Botafogo goalkeeper Neto. His delicate dink allowed him to take full control of the situation before calmly heading the ball home from close range, securing all three points for his side.
There was a late setback for the hosts when Agustin Canobbio was shown a red card, forcing Fluminense to see out the closing stages with ten men. Despite the numerical disadvantage, they defended resolutely and held firm to secure all three points and local bragging rights.
The victory lifts Fluminense up to third in the table on seven points, while Botafogo sit 11th with four points from their opening matches.
Corinthians 2-0 Bragantino
A classic Paulista clash took place as Corinthians hosted Bragantino.
The two sides had already met twice this year in the Paulista state championship, where Bragantino ran out comfortable 3-0 winners back in January.
This time, however, it was a very different story.
After a quiet first half, Gabriel Paulista broke the deadlock shortly after the interval, rising highest to head home from a corner.
Bragantino were handed a golden opportunity to respond, but Isidro Pitta missed from the penalty spot, and that proved costly.
Timao made them pay later in the match when Matheus Bidu tapped home following an effort from Yuri Alberto, sealing a controlled and deserved 2-0 victory for the hosts.
Internacional 1-3 Palmeiras
The final match of the matchweek saw Internacional take on last year’s runners-up Palmeiras.
It was Palmeiras who made the brighter start when Andreas Pereira delivered an excellent corner for Gustavo Gomez to head home, giving the visitors an early lead.
Internacional responded 12 minutes later through Ronaldo, whose lovely volley left Carlos Miguel with little chance in goal.
In the second half, Internacional dominated possession, enjoying 71% of the ball and registering an xG of 1.55 compared to Palmeiras’ 0.60. However, it was the clinical finishing of Palmeiras that ultimately made the difference.
First, Vitor Roque restored the lead to make it 2-1, before Pereira capped off a fine performance by sealing a 3-1 victory away from home.
The result sees Palmeiras sit top of the Brasileirao after three matches, while Internacional remain second from bottom with one draw and two defeats. They will be desperate to bounce back quickly.