Matchday 16 of the Brasileirão meant that Botafogo dropped points against an unexpected rival like Santos, which is fighting to stay away from the relegation places.
The Fogao drew 2-2 with the Peixe, which opened the door for their new followers to move to 11 points, but with a game in hand.
Gremio, who beat Atlético Mineiro 1-0, moved up to second place, leaving behind Flamengo, who could only draw 1-1 at home with América Mineiro.
In the relegation zone, there are not many changes, as Bahia, Coritiba, América Mineiro, and Vasco are all out of the category so far.
Round 16 games
Gremio 1-0 Atlético Mineiro
Bahía 0-0 Corinthians
Cuiabá 2-1 São Paulo
Flamengo 1-1 América-MG
Palmeiras 3-1 Fortaleza
Bragantino 0-0 Internacional
Cruzeiro 0-1 Goiás
Santos 2-2 Botafogo
Vasco 0-2 Athletico-PR
Coritiba 2-0 Fluminense
Brasileirão Série A Matchday 16: Gremio 1-0 Atlético-MG
When:
Saturday, July 22 at 3:00 pm ET
Moneyline odds:
Gremio +140
Atlético Mineiro +200
Draw offs:
+220
At home, Gremio achieved a transcendental 1-0 victory over Atlético Mineiro, thus becoming the runner-up of the leader of the competition, Botafogo.
The only goal of the match came with a corner kick from the right zone by Franco Cristaldo, and almost on the ground, midfielder Ronald arrived to head the ball into the net.
This victory allowed the team from Porto Alegre to end a streak of seven games conceding goals in all competitions, and it has also won seven of its last 10 matches and reached 29 points, 11 behind Botafogo.
Brasileirão Série A Matchday 16: Flamengo 1-1 América-MG
When
Saturday, July 22 at 3:00 pm ET
Moneyline odds:
Flamengo -263
América-MG +700
Draw offs:
+409
Flamengo missed a golden opportunity to get closer to the top of the Brazilian league and drew 1-1 at home with América Mineiro, one of the worst clubs in the competition, as they are second last in the Brasileirão with only 10 points.
The Coelho took the lead in the 84th minute with Felipe Azevedo, who took a bad rebound from defender Leo Pereira in the area and shot for the first time to score. In turn, Victor Gomes made the parity at 90+5′, after a free kick perfectly executed by the Uruguayan Giorgian De Arrascaeta from the left flank.
Although the Mengao have eight matches without losing, they are in third place with 28 points, one less than Gremio.
Brasileirão Série A Matchday 16: Palmeiras 3-1 Fortaleza
When:
Saturday, July 22 at 3:00 pm ET
Moneyline odds:
Palmeiras -166
Fortaleza +450
Draw offs:
+280
Palmeiras returned to winning ways and moved up two places in the Brasilerão, with a convincing 3-1 victory over Fortaleza, which remains in the middle of the table.
The first goal was scored after 8 minutes with a mid-range shot by the Colombian Richard Ríos, which took a slight deviation. Although Juan Lucero equalized with a penalty at 45′, in the second half the Verdao took the lead at 81′ with a left-footed shot from Raphael Veiga in the midfield. Finally, Breno Lopes closed the score at 90+6′ when he sent a cross from the right flank into the back of the net.
The Sao Paulo team reached 28 points and is in fourth place, directly qualifying for the next Copa Libertadores, and has gotten 17 of 24 possible points at home.
Brasileirão Série A Matchday 16: Santos 2-2 Botafogo
When
Saturday, July 23 at 2:00 pm ET
Moneyline odds:
Santos +300
Botafogo +100
Draw offs:
+220
The surprise of the day came in the 2-2 draw between Santos and Botafogo, who remain the all-powerful leaders with a difference of 11 points.
The Peixe scored the first goal with Marcos Leonardo, who, at 24′, hooked the ball in the area and shot from a tight angle to open the account, the same player made it 2-0 at 81′ when he finished off a cross from Lucas Lima. However, at 84′, Fogao scored through Tiquinho Soares, after a great assist in the area by Janderson, and the equalizer came from Adryelson when he headed in a corner kick from the right (87′).
Santos has conceded 15 goals in five matches, but this point is enough to move three points clear of the relegation zone. Botafogo snapped a four-match clean sheet streak, but with 40 points, they are looking down on everyone at the top.
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