Palmeiras thrash Remo 6-1, the biggest win of this Brazilian league season, and stay three points behind Flamengo
With two goals from Arias, Abel Ferreira's side dominated at Nubank Parque; four rounds remain, including a head-to-head clash with the leader.
Translated from the Portuguese original by the Panorama newsroom. Read in Portuguese
Summary written by the Panorama newsroom from the sources listed below. Facts are attributed to the original publications.
Palmeiras routed Remo 6-1 on Thursday (Nov. 5) at Nubank Parque in São Paulo and kept up the chase of Flamengo in the Brazilian Championship, according to Folha de S.Paulo. With four rounds left to play, Flamengo lead with 76 points, three more than Palmeiras.
The score is the most lopsided of this edition of the tournament, surpassing Vasco's 5-0 win over Coritiba, and also Palmeiras' biggest victory in the history of the fixture against the club from Pará. The home side were 4-0 up in the first half, with two goals from Arias, one from Maurício and an own goal by Marcelinho. José Welison pulled one back in stoppage time, and Flaco López and Felipe Anderson completed the rout in the second half.
According to the newspaper, Arias' second goal was Palmeiras' 950th in Brazilian league matches played at their stadium, counting from the old Palestra Itália, over 510 games.
Folha notes that overtaking the leader will not be easy: Flamengo are on a 15-game unbeaten run in the competition, with 11 wins, while Abel Ferreira's team had a lower points rate over the same period and lost the lead in round 26. Felipe Anderson, who scored the sixth goal, said the squad must be motivated "every day" because it is fighting on all fronts.
Palmeiras are still in the Copa do Brasil, where they need a draw against Vasco to reach the final, and in the Copa Libertadores final against Estudiantes on the 28th. In the league, they face Cruzeiro, Flamengo, Chapecoense and Coritiba; the leader also plays Athletico, Coritiba and Chapecoense.