Moura, 19, has grabbed the attention of Europe's biggest clubs after establishing himself as one of Brazil's most promising young players.

The attacking midfielder has already won 11 caps for his country and Juvenico warned only an "enormous offer" will prise him away.

Juvenico claimed a bid of £20 million ($32 million) from Inter Milan had also already been declined while Real Madrid had made contact to underline the interest.

But after Chelsea's big-money offer Juvenico believes the newly-crowned European champion is leading the race for Moura.

"We did not accept the offer but of course Chelsea is the closest to signing Lucas," he told Italian website www.fcinter1908.com.

"Inter made an offer of £20.2 million, but this was not considered sufficient by us.

"Real Madrid is one of these other interested clubs - there has been contact with the president Florentino Perez, who admires the player.

"Lucas is a big player who will triumph in Europe, but Sao Paulo will only sell him for an enormous offer."

Asked what Chelsea's bid was, he added: "40million euros.

"I can not say right now (what price Sao Paulo would sell at) because they are assessments that are made taking into account many factors - you know the market.

"But Lucas is a fantastic player with great qualities who is giving so much to the team."

Chelsea's position could be strengthened after it was in negotiations with Sao Paulo only last year when they competed the signing of young striker Lucas Piazon.

Any fears the teenager would baulk at a move to Europe early in his career could also be aided by walking into a Stamford Bridge dressing room that already boasts Brazil internationals Ramires and David Luiz.

"He is still deciding where he would like his future to be but those clubs that are interested are free to do so," Juvenico added.

"What must be decided at the end though should be decided with all relevant parties.

"He has had a great time here (at Sao Paulo) and will only leave for an important offer."

Ronaldinho complained of the team's tactics after a 1-1 draw against Sport in its opening match in the Campeonato Brasileiro over the weekend, irritating coach Joel Santana.

The former South Africa coach Santana hinted at the team's disappointment because Ronaldinho didn't play well.

Ronaldinho has been criticised by fans and local media for his poor performances and the team's disappointing results this year, and there have been talks about the player possibly leaving the club.

It doesn't help that Flamengo has been struggling to pay for the player's high salary, prompting Ronaldinho's agent to complain.

Defender Leandro Euzebio gave Fluminense the win in Sao Paulo with a header in the 72nd minute of a match.

Both teams were playing without regular starters because of the Copa Libertadores.

Herrera came off the bench and scored all his goals in the second half at the Engenhao stadium in Rio de Janeiro, helping Botafogo twice come back from deficits to earn the win in its home opener.

Sao Paulo, a six-time Brazilian league champion, had goals from former Brazil striker Luis Fabiano and former Shakhtar Donetsk playmaker Jadson.

Substitute Fernandes had put the host ahead in the 77th minute but Clemerson Araujo almost immediately equalised from a penalty and it was left to Caio to restore Figuerense's lead.

Vagner Love has earned Flamengo a 1-1 draw away to Sport Recife, equalising in the 74th minute after Marcos Do Nascimento had given the home side the lead.

It was also 1-1 between Palmeiras and Portuguesa, Luan giving the home side a first-half lead before Rodriguinho equalised late on.

Pele spent two decades at the club where he made his name and arrived by helicopter to lead the cheerleading at its Vila Belmiro stadium while current star Neymar was also on hand along with dozens of children who were allowed onto the pitch to enjoy the occasion at close quarters during a special gala match.

"This moment is a gift from God," said Pele, 71, who made his club debut in 1956 and continued in its black and white colours until 1974 before heading for the US league with New York Cosmos prior to retirement.

"All this happiness, this moment of pleasure - it's not just about me. Many suffered with me - I thank everyone," said an emotional Pele, Globo daily's web portal web G1 reported.

The club's prodigal son arrived clutching the Copa Libertadores trophy which Santos won for the third time last season.

Former stars from across the generations joined Pele to mark the centenary of a club which was a small-time outfit at its birth on 14 April, 1912, before the likes of Pele turned it into a world beater.

It won the Sao Paulo state championship 11 times in 15 seasons in an era when the competition was far more prestigious than it is today.

It won the South American Copa Libertadores in successive years in 1962 and 1963 and also won the Intercontinental Cup - played against the reigning European champion - back-to-back in these years.

Two-legged victories over Eusebio's Benfica and Italian giant AC Milan allowed Santos to legitimately call itself the best team in the world.

Everyone wanted to see ti in action and, as Pele said at the presentation of a book to mark the club's centenary, 'the only place Santos did not visit was the moon'.

Its visit to a Congo embroiled in war in 1969 was enough to bring a halt to the fighting, albeit only temporarily, and the same applied when Santos visited Nigeria at the time of the Biafra Civil War that same year.

"It made no sense for these countries to carry on fighting while Santos were there," club historian Guilherme Nascimento recently told sports daily Lance!

FIFA had earlier paid its tribute by noting on its website earlier in the week that 'rarely in the history of football can a team have been so closely associated with one player as Santos FC are with Pele'.

A reported six million euros ($7.62 million) deal has been finalised to allow the 24-year-old to remain in his homeland, where he had been training since the start of the year.

After two seasons in the Bundesliga the former Santos player had sought a move back to Brazil, however, the terms of the deal were not agreed until now.

"I am very excited. I have been training at Palmeiras for a while now," Wesley told Palmeiras' website.

"Since I was in Europe I have had several offers, but when Palmeiras' interest came up I was delighted and did not have to think twice."

Cadena SER radio reported that the club has already paid $18.3 million of the total $73 million transfer fee to the 20-year-old's Brazilian club Santos.

"According to several reliable sources Barca have already paid a quarter of the 58 million euros to Santos to guarantee the transfer of the player," Cadena SER claimed, adding that the date for his transfer was after the World Cup in Brazil in 2014.

The report added that the decision to seal the deal was taken by the player and his father against the wishes of his agent Wagner Ribeiro.

Neymar is considered the future star of Brazilian football and has been targeted by several European clubs, including Barcelona's rivals Real Madrid.

The Brazilian failed to claim a regular berth in the Bundesliga club's starting XI, making just 26 appearances since arriving from Santos in 2010.

He has recently been keeping himself fit with Palmeiras after becoming surplus to requirements in Bremen, which has now reached a formal agreement with the Brazilian club for the player to make a permanent transfer back to his home country.

"After reaching an agreement with Palmeiras a while ago, the bank guarantees which were necessary to assure the transfer have now arrived," said Bremen's director of sport Klaus Allofs.

"Even if the whole procedure has dragged on a little, we were always confident that it would go through since we remained in close contact with the Palmeiras management and all agreements and dates were adhered to."

Wesley scored only two goals during a troubled time in Germany.

The team said on Wednesday that Adriano will have to stay inside the hotel at the team's headquarters at least through the weekend, eating only what doctors give him and practising three times a day.

Corinthians physical trainer Fabio Mahseredjian said the 'more drastic' decision to lock Adriano up was made because the team feels he won't improve his condition unless he stops eating excessively.

"We locked him here because this way we can have more control of what he eats, of how he rests," Mahseredjian said. "You can only lose weight if you stop eating."

Mahseredjian said a team nutritionist has prepared a specific diet for the 29-year-old Adriano. He will be receiving a pre-prepared plate of food separately from the other players, and especially picked snacks will be delivered to his room at predetermined times during the day.

"We are doing everything we can to give him a chance to get better," Corinthians coach Tite said. "We want what is best for him and what is best for us."

Adriano has played sparingly since recovering from surgery on his Achilles tendon last year and is in danger of not being included in the squad which will play in the Copa Libertadores.

The surgery was in April and Adriano only returned to action at the end of the year, visibly out of shape. He came off the bench to score a crucial winner for Corinthians in the final rounds of the Brazilian league, helping the team get in position to eventually win the title last year. He is yet to play in the 2012 Sao Paulo state championship.

Mahseredjian said Adriano has reacted well to his confinement.

"He knows we are trying to do what's best for him," he said. "But he also needs to do his part. He needs to know that the older you get, the harder it is (to remain in shape)."

Local media reported that the lockup is Corinthians' way of giving Adriano a last chance to get his act together. Several club directors and even some players have not been happy with the striker, who reportedly missed dozens of physiotherapy session without reasonable explanations.

Adriano made many headlines for off-the-field problems in recent years, including his involvement in a minor car accident, a public altercation with a girlfriend and even a police investigation for alleged ties with drug lords in the shantytowns where he grew up - although he was never charged.

More recently, a woman riding in Adriano's car accused the player of shooting her in the hand, but she later retracted and said the weapon went off accidentally when she was holding it.

Adriano quit Inter Milan in 2009, saying he was not happy in Italy and wanted to be closer to his friends. He missed several practices with Flamengo in 2010, prompting a team director to publicly say that the striker had a drinking problem.

Mahseredjian said he 'obviously' also asked Adriano to stay away from alcohol as he tries to return to form.

Adriano played in the 2006 FIFA World Cup but missed the tournament in South Africa despite leading Flamengo to the national title the year before. He played for Roma before being signed by Corinthians.

Authorities in Rio say the four fans were hospitalised after being shot early Monday but their injuries were not life threatening.

They were shot at a plaza by unknown assailants who drove by just after a fight between supporters from both clubs.

Dozens of other football supporters were also injured or detained at other venues on Sunday in clashes between rival fans and fights between hooligans and police.

Police had to use rubber bullets to disperse the crowd before the match between Ponte Preta and Sao Paulo in the interior city of Campinas.

President Patricia Amorim said it made the decision after listening to the "opinion of players and fans."

Luxemburgo reportedly was at odds with club directors and with the team's top star, two-time world player of the year Ronaldinho.

Local media reported before Flamengo's victory over Real Potosi in the Copa Libertadores that Flamengo had already hired former South Africa coach Joel Santana but Amorim said a new coach was not yet signed.

The 59-year-old Luxemburgo was with Flamengo since 2010 and won the Rio championship in 2011. He previously coached Real Madrid and Brazil.

The 27-year-old Brazil international, who spent six months on loan at Flamengo in 2010, has signed a contract that ties him to the Rio de Janeiro outfit until December 2014.

Rio-born Love told www.flamengo.com.br: "I'm very very happy indeed to return to the club of my heart. It will be great to wear the shirt without having to leave six months later. I'll stay for a long time and I want to win, win and win. I want to win every possible title with the club."

Love started his career with Palmeiras in 2002 before moving to CSKA two years later.

The prolific forward scored 117 goals in 244 games for the Russian club and helped it win numerous domestic titles as well as the 2005 UEFA Cup.

He added on CSKA's official website, www.pfc-cska.com: "I'm taking with me from Russia some great memories.

"During my seven years I have always felt the love and support of both the club and the fans. CSKA will always be an important part of my life."

The 20-year-old Sao Paulo player is one of the most highly-rated young forwards in South America - he was the leading scorer at the World Youth Cup last year - and had long been expected to join a top European side.

It looked as if QPR had pulled off a coup when they agreed last week an initial 18-month loan deal, with a view to finalising a STG5.5 million (A$8.1 million) acquisition in 2013.

However, the deal fell apart on Monday when he had his application for a work permit denied.

"He didn't get a work permit for various reasons," a QPR spokesman told Press Association Sport.

Among those reasons were the fact the player still has limited experience in club football, and because he has not yet made his debut for the senior Brazil team.

He was in Montevideo to receive the accolade of best player in the Americas, awarded by the Uruguayan newspaper El Pais.

"I do not plan to go now, I have many things to do in Santos," he said when asked by reporters about European clubs that are trying to lure him.

"I have a contract until 2014 and I intend to stay until 2014," said the player who has scored 81 goals in 159 games. He renewed his contract in November for two more years.

Neymar was seen as one of the world's hottest transfer prospects, and has been linked to European powerhouses Manchester United, Chelsea, Barcelona and Real Madrid at various points in his burgeoning career.

Neymar, whose full name is Neymar da Silva Santos Jr, plays up front for Santos and the Brazilian national side.

Asked if he envisioned playing in Europe after the FIFA World Cup in Brazil in 2014, he said he was not sure.

"Everyone knows it's a dream to go play in Europe ... I don't know whether it will be in 2014 or later," he said.

"I want to reach agreement and then he can compete in the Copa Libertadores. But I don't know if that's going to happen," de Assis told the newspaper Extra on Thursday ahead of the January 25 tie against Bolivian side Real Potosi.

Three-quarters of Ronaldinho's salary is covered by marketing group Traffic, who have not paid in five months.

"Someone has to take that on, they have to pay. We've been waiting for five months now. They (Flamengo and Traffic) have to reach agreement but that seems difficult to me. Five months have gone by and there has been nothing," de Assis continued.

Club president Patricia Amorim expressed his optimism that "things are advancing".

But De Assis warned that if the 31-year-old former World Cup winner is not paid immediately he could take up one of several firm offers he has had from teams in Italy, Spain and South America.

Ronaldinho returned to Brazil in 2011 in the hope of winning back a place in the national side for the 2014 World Cup which is being hosted by his home country.

The 2002 World Cup winner last played in November 2010 after being overlooked for the World Cup in South Africa when his club career at AC Milan began to flag.

Twice world player of the year, Ronaldinho whose full name is Ronaldo de Assis Moreira, started with Gremio aged 18 before moving to Paris Saint-Germain, FC Barcelona - with whom he won the 2006 Champions League - and then AC Milan.

Brandao is expected to return to Marseille this week but a source close to the club told AFP that 'there are still a few judicial things to sort out'.

The 31-year-old had been loaned to Gremio until the end of December and could now feature in Marseille's home game with Lille next weekend.

Gremio said that Brandao's return was 'at the request of (Marseille coach) Didier Deschamps'.

However, the club source interviewed by AFP said that the striker could be sold to a Russian club before the closure of the Russian transfer window on 31 March.

Brandao joined OM from Shakhtar Donetsk in January 2009 and was loaned to Brazilian club Cruzeiro after being placed under investigation for rape by a judge in Marseille on 9 March last year. He later joined Gremio, also on loan.

Brandao was released on bail but came face to face with his accuser during a court hearing in Marseille last October.

He was accused of rape by a 24-year-old woman who claimed that he attacked her in his car after offering to drive her home from a nightclub in Aix-en-Provence, near Marseille, last March.

The Russian outfit judge the 6 million euros ($A7.5 million) offered for the Brazilian over five years as "simply insufficient".

"We made it clear that we are ready to part company with Vagner Love for 10 million euros," the spokesman said.

"This sum is clearly inferior to the player's value but the club management are ready to satisfy the player's request in light of all he has done for CSKA."

Love joined CSKA in 2004, winning the UEFA Cup in 2005, and scoring 110 goals in 223 matches. The Brazilian was loaned to Flamengo in 2010.

In comments posted on the team's website, Palmeiras director Cesar Sampaio says the 38-year-old player announced his decision on Wednesday.

Marcos helped his team win four state championships, two national championships, and the 1999 Copa Libertadores tournament.

He was also on the national team that won the 2002 World Cup, the Confederations Cup in 2005 and the Copa America in 1999.

Palmeiras says it will organise a farewell game in Marcos' honour. The date and opponent will be announced later.

"We are very optimistic regarding this negotiation," Flamengo vice-chairman Michel Levy told sports daily Lance.

The newspaper added that the offer had been made on 29 December but as yet the Russian side had not responded.

"Vagner has always been in our plans, we are doing our utmost to get him. We have had important meetings ... and are awaiting a response, optimistic there will be an agreement," Levy said.

The 27-year-old Love, full name Vagner Silva de Souza, joined CSKA in 2004 and won the UEFA Cup in 2005.

He has scored 110 goals in 223 games for the Russian side but he wishes to return to his homeland.

In 2009, he had a spell on loan with his first professional side Palmeiras but failed to shine.

Love then went to Flamengo, which is also trying to lure former loan man Thiago Neves, who is currently with Saudi side Al Hilal and in whom the Brazilian side has a 20 percent stake.

Neymar did not attend Monday night's ceremony in Sao Paulo as he was on his way to Tokyo to compete in the FIFA Club World Cup.

The 19-year-old, who also won the best striker's award, has been a target for a number of top European clubs but extended his contract with Brazilian side Santos last month to 2014.

Oliveira, who turned 61 on Monday, has been hired as coach of Botafogo, according to Brazilian media.

By mutual consent, he has decided not to renew his contract which is due to expire this month after the end of the J.League season, a Kashima Antlers statement read.

Kashima finished sixth in the J.League - with 13 wins, 10 losses and 11 draws - in the season that concluded on Saturday with Kashiwa Reysol winning its first title.

But Kashima still won the J.League Cup, known as the Nabisco Cup.

Oliveira will continue to guide the team at the Emperor's Cup, which is open to all professional and amateur teams in Japan and will end with the final on New Year's Day.

Under Oliveira, the J.League side also won the Emperor's Cup in 2007 and 2010.

Oliveira coached various Brazilian sides, including Vasco, Fluminense, Sao Paulo, Flamengo, Vitoria, Santos and Cruzeiro before coming to Japan.

He also piloted Corinthians to win the 2000 FIFA Club World Championship, a predecessor to the Club World Cup.

The Sao Paulo-based outfit emerged from an ugly encounter against Palmeiras with a goalless draw to end the campaign two points clear of Vasco da Gama and seal its first league crown since 2005.

The match was played under a shadow after the announcement of 57-year-old Socrates' death from severe septicaemia.

One of the greatest players of his generation, Socrates won 60 caps for Brazil and captained the 'Selecao' at the 1982 World Cup.

His club career included spells at Botafogo, Fiorentina, Flamengo and Santos, but it was at Corinthians that he carved out his reputation as one of the greats, scoring 172 goals in 297 games and winning three league championships.

A minute's silence was held before every match in the Brazilian league, although it was sad that what followed during Corinthians' stalemate with Palmeiras was a world away from the cultured game made famous by Socrates.

Both sides ended with nine men in a bad-tempered encounter, which was marred by a mass brawl late on.

Palmeiras' Jorge Valdivia was the first player to receive his marching orders after 48 minutes, while Corinthians' Reis Wallace followed him down the tunnel in the 74th minute. The late brawl led to the dismissals of Castan Leandro for the host and Palmeiras' Joao Vitor.

The draw meant the outcome of Vasco da Gama's match with Flamengo was immaterial, although the host would have hoped for better than a 1-1 stalemate.

Diego Souza fired Vasco ahead on 29 minutes but Renato levelled nine minutes into the second period. Freitas Jumar was dismissed for the host 20 minutes from time, while goalscorer Renato saw red for Flamengo late on.

Fluminense finished the season in third after a 1-1 draw at Botafogo. Fred opened the scoring for Fluminense after five minutes but Felipe Menezes (12) levelled. Edwin Valencia was sent off for the visitor 13 minutes from time.

Atletico Paranaense saw its relegation confirmed despite a 1-0 win over Coritiba courtesy of Joffre Guerron's strike on 73 minutes.

Ceara also dropped into Serie B with a 2-1 loss at Bahia. Guilherme Camacho (13) and Luiz Lulinha (43) put Bahia in charge, while Felipe Azevedo's strike on half-time was in vain for the visitor.

Already-relegated America MG was thumped 5-1 by Atletico Goianiense. Goals by Reinaldo Felipe (12), Luiz Marcio (16), Rosa Gilson (40), Brito Anailson (72) and Paulo Henrique (86) saw Atletico to victory, while America replied with a Paulo Henrique own goal.

Bottom side Avai bowed out of the top flight with a 1-1 draw at home to Figueirense, Diogo Orlando (44) opening the scoring for the host before Araujo Heber (46) levelled. Julio Cesar was dismissed for the visitor on 53 minutes.

Cruzeiro dispelled lingering relegation fears with a 6-1 demolition of Atletico Mineiro, goals by Roger (10), Leandro Guerreiro (29), Ramon Anselmo (34), Fabricio (45), Wellington Paulista (57) and Everton (90) doing the damage.

Wellington Paulista was dismissed for Cruzeiro 12 minutes from time.

Atletico replied through Humberto Rever (61) and also lost Werley to a red card.

Luis Fabiano scored in each half and Santos Cicero (33) and Lucas Moura (38) also tallied as Sao Paulo ran out a 4-1 winner over Santos, which replied through Blumer Elano.

Internacional defeated Gremio 1-0 thanks to Andres D'Alessandro's 61st-minute penalty.

Neymar is planning to appeal against the decision, handed down by a court in Sao Paulo on Tuesday.

"It was never my intention to offend the referee," the Santos forward wrote on his personal website on Wednesday.

According to his lawyer, Neymar was not even the author of the message criticising referee Sandro Meira Ricci that appeared on his Twitter account after Santos' 4-2 defeat against Victoria in August 2010.

The lawyer claimed the message was written by a friend of Neymar's who had access to the account.

Neymar said he deleted the message 'immediately' after being informed of its existence.

"My mistake was not to have taken the necessary precautions," he said.

The judge decided that Neymar should 'pay for this oversight' and advised him to make sure 'people cannot use his name for illicit means'.

Neymar has been linked to some of Europe's most glamorous clubs, including Spanish giant Real Madrid, but the Brazil international recently extended his contract with Santos until 2014.

The former Brazil international was accused of sexual assault on a woman in December of 2010 while playing for AC Milan on loan from city rival Inter.

The 31-year-old Mancini is now contracted to boyhood club Atletico Mineiro in Brazil.

Liedson scored the only goal of the game in the 68th minute as Corinthians remained two points clear of second-placed Vasco da Gama, which kept alive its own hopes with a last-gasp 2-1 win at third-placed Fluminense.

Vasco looked set to drop two potentially decisive points against the outgoing champion when a 77th-minute opener from substitute Alecsandro was cancelled out by Fluminense forward Fred with six minutes remaining.

However, with the match having entered stoppage-time, another Vasco replacement Bernardo found the back of the net to earn his side the win and keep it within touching distance of Corinthians.

Corinthians completes its campaign at home to Palmeiras while Vasco hosts fourth-placed Flamengo - both matches being local derbies to add spice to the final round of the season.

At the other end of the table, second-bottom America MG's valiant late bid to escape relegation looks set to fail despite picking up a fourth win in its last five matches with a 2-1 triumph over Atletico Paranaense.

Despite that victory, which was secured with an 81st-minute winner from Gilson, America is still three points adrift of safety after 16th-placed Cruzeiro's 2-2 draw at fellow struggler Ceara.

Ceara opened the scoring through Oswaldo in the 20th minute but it needed an 82nd-minute equaliser from Daniel to salvage a point after Cruzeiro had hit back with goals from Ramon Anselmo and Jose Maria Ortigoza.

Already-relegated Avai lost its 21st match of the season after going down to a late Jeci goal at Coritiba, which climbed up to fifth spot after the four teams immediately above it at the start of the day - Internacional, Figueirense, Sao Paulo and Botafogo - all suffered defeats.

A Ronaldinho goal on the stroke of half-time earned Flamengo a 1-0 win over International and kept it three points ahead of Coritiba, while Botafogo crashed to a 4-0 loss at Atletico Mineiro, for whom Daniel Carvalho, Andre De Souza (two) and Leonardo Silva netted.

Sao Paulo, meanwhile, was beaten 1-0 at Palmeiras, Marcos Assuncao's 56th-minute strike proving the difference.

In the day's other two matches, Gremio drew 2-2 with Atletico Goianiense while Santos and Bahia played out a 1-1 tie.

Leonardo Silva had given the visitor a surprise lead 11 minutes after the interval but Liedson equalised in the 79th minute and then substitute Adriano bagged a dramatic winner a minute from time.

The result moved the Sao Paulo club back two points clear of second-placed Vasco da Gama with two games left.

Champion Fluminense kept alive its faint title hopes by remaining five points behind Corinthians with a 4-0 win at Figueirense.

Striker Fred, who bagged four goals in the midweek 5-4 triumph over Gremio, grabbed another hat-trick, with Marco Antonio also on target.

The win virtually assured the Rio de Janeiro outfit at least a Copa Libertadores qualifying spot, moving it five points clear of its fifth-placed opponent.

Internacional climbed to fourth, alongside Figueirense and Flamengo on 57 points, thanks to a 2-1 victory at Botafogo.

Leandro Damiao put the visitor ahead on the stroke of half-time and Oscar doubled the advantage in the 73rd minute. Substitute Felipe Menezes pulled a goal back for the host three minutes later but it was not enough.

Sixth-spotted Flamengo, meanwhile, was held to a goalless draw at Atletico Goianiense.

A 62nd-minute Leonardo strike was enough to earn Coritiba three points with a 1-0 home win against Santos, lifting the victor above its guest into ninth spot.

The match between relegation strugglers Cruzeiro and Atletico Paranaense ended in a 1-1 draw which did little for either team's plight.

Charles secured the point for Cruzeiro two minutes before half-time after Marcinho's 26th-minute opener, but both sides stayed in the bottom five.

Finally, Palmeiras prevailed 2-0 at Bahia courtesy of Ricardo Bueno's first-half opener and Marcos Assuncao's 90th-minute clincher.

Avai had Junior Urso sent off after only 21 minutes and the host made its man advantage count after the interval.

Jorge Felipe opened the scoring five minutes into the second half and Elton's 66th-minute strike sealed matters.

The result put Vasco a point clear of Corinthians and left bottom club Avai eight points adrift of safety with only two games remaining.

Elsewhere, Felipe Azevedo bagged a hat-trick as Ceara boosted its survival bid with a 3-1 win at Gremio.

The midfielder's first effort was cancelled out by Douglas eight minutes before half-time, but his second - from the penalty spot four minutes into the second half - restored the lead he notched a third before the hour to put the result beyond doubt.

America MG remained deep in trouble second from bottom, though, after going down 3-1 at Sao Paulo.

Luis Fabiano's brace saw the host head in at the break two goals to the good and Juan extended the advantage five minutes after the restart.

Its cause was not helped by the 55th-minute dismissal of Xandao, and substitute Alessandro pulled a goal back 12 minutes from time, but that was as good as it got for America MG.

The win moved Sao Paulo up to fifth and kept alive its hopes of a top-four finish and a Copa Libertadores qualifying spot.

Neto Berola put the home team ahead in the 19th minute and Leonardo Silva doubled the advantage 11 minutes from time.

Substitute Bill pulled a goal back in the 89th minute for Coritiba, but it was not enough to deny Atletico a victory which moved it up to 14th.

Elsewhere, fifth-placed Flamengo and fourth-spotted Figueirense played out a goalless draw which left the latter a point ahead of its rival with three games left in the battle for a top-four finish.

Finally, Paulo Henrique Ganso's last-gasp equaliser secured a 1-1 draw for Santos against 10-man Atletico Goianiense.

Jose Leonardo had put the visitor ahead nine minutes before half-time and it looked on course for all three points despite the 62nd-minute dismissal of Agenor, but Ganso's last-gasp intervention earned the host a share of the spoils.

Vasco survived the second-half dismissal of Romulo to beat Botafogo 2-0 at home. By the time Romulo saw red in the 67th minute, the host already led 2-0 through Fellipe Bastos and Dede.

Corinthians made an astonishing start against Atletico Paranaense as Paulinho and Emerson put it 2-0 up inside four minutes. Paulo Baier pulled a goal back in the 48th minute but that was as good as it got for Atletico.

Flamengo fell six points behind the leaders after a 2-0 defeat at Coritiba, Leandro Donizete and Maranhao with the goals in a seven-minute first-half spell.

Santos won a topsy-turvy game away to struggling Ceara by the odd goal in five. Bruno Aguiar put the visitor ahead but Felipe Azevedo's penalty and Oswaldo's strike put Ceara 2-1 up at half-time.

But Bruno Aguiar struck again five minutes after the interval and Diogo's 72nd-minute goal won it for Santos.

Gremio came from 2-0 down to draw with Palmeiras. Cicinho and Marcos Assuncao put Palmeiras 2-0 up but Brandao halved the deficit and Fernando bagged a last-minute equaliser.

Ten-man Bahia won 1-0 at Atletico Goianense, Rodrigo De Souza scoring in the 10th minute before he was sent off in the 31st.

Ernesto Farias scored the only goal as Cruzeiro beat Internacional, which had Elton sent off early in the second half.

Struggling America lifted itself off the foot of the table thanks to goals from Kempes six minutes before half-time and Alessandro in the 79th minute, Rafael Moura pulling one back three minutes later.

That allowed Figueirense to move level on points with Flu thanks to a 2-1 comeback win over Atletico Mineiro.

Wellington Nem and Julio Cesar scored second-half goals to turn the game around after Werley had given Atletico the interval lead.

Seventh-placed Sao Paulo is unlikely to challenge for the title but lies just three points further back, and five behind leaders Corinthians, with four games to play after Luis Fabiano's double downed Avai, who slip to the bottom after America's win.

Neymar has long been a reported target of Chelsea although Spanish giant Real Madrid and Barcelona were very much leading the chase for the 19-year-old's signature.

The highly-rated frontman, who has scored eight times for Brazil in just 15 appearances, has repeatedly denied his interest in leaving for one of Europe's elite sides, and backed up those words by committing to his current club until the World Cup is held in his homeland in three years' time.

"I'm one of the fans, I love to play for Santos and the happiness of being in my country," Neymar said at a press conference at which he was flanked by his father and Santos president Luis Alvaro Ribeiro.

"I'm a player who is making history in Santos. I'm glad to represent Santos and Brazil. I can only thank God for putting wonderful people on the path of my life.

"Here is where I'm happy and here is where I want to stay. I've always said that happiness would play a significant role in my decision."

Asked about his future after the World Cup, Neymar insisted that he could not see beyond Santos.

"I do not see myself leaving Santos," he said. "I plan to stay here a long time."

Ribeiro believes Brazil will be 'a happier country' knowing that Neymar is staying at one of its biggest clubs.

"Some months ago we started a fight seen by some as a dream," he said.

"Finally this morning we finished the negotiations with the father of Neymar.

"Through dialogue, built day after day, he understood the permanence of Neymar ahead of the 2014 World Cup would provide a service to the country.

"I think Brazil is now a happier country."

Police say the fans offended and physically assaulted the officiating crew after Corinthians' 2-1 loss to last-place America. The attack happened as the crew arrived at Sao Paulo's airport on Monday.

Assistant referee Altemir Hausmann said he was kicked in the leg and punched in the arm by fans wearing Corinthians jerseys. Some of them were on the same flight as the referees but didn't recognise them until later.

Police identified the men with images from the airport's security cameras.

Fabio Junior opened the scoring for the home side with a penalty but Anderson Chicao netted from the spot on half-time to draw the visitor level.

Carlos Amaral netted the winner for America with 12 minutes remaining.

Second-placed Vasco da Gama failed to make the most of Corinthians' defeat as it lost 2-0 at Santos, whose goals came from Neymar and Humberlito Borges.

Fluminense, in third, moved to two points behind the top two as it won 2-1 at Internacional.

Rafael Moura opened the scoring for Fluminense before Oscar replied for Internacional.

Rafael Sobis put Fluminense 2-1 ahead just before half-time and to add to Nacional's woes it had Juan sent off with seven minutes remaining.

Coritiba was a 2-0 winner over Palmeiras as Davi Rodriguez and Leonardo hit the target, Joao Vitor being sent off for Palmeiras with 11 minutes to go.

Thiago Neves hit a hat-trick and Deivid netted twice as Flamengo defeated Cruzeiro 5-1, Ramon Anselmo put the visitor ahead before being sent off 17 minutes from time.

Frederico Nieto scored both goals as Atletico Paranaense beat Atletico Goianiense 2-1 after the visitor had led through Nascimento Anselmo.

Thiago Humberto and Felipe Azevedo scored for Ceara, which won 2-1 away to Avai - for whom William replied.

Julio Cesar's sixth-minute goal settled the contest, lifting the visitor up to fifth and leaving Botafogo three points adrift of joint pacesetters Corinthians and Vasco da Gama.

Bahia showed commendable spirit to move further clear of the bottom five, hitting back from 3-1 down to sink Sao Paulo 4-3.

The visitor would have moved to within five points of the summit with a win - and it looked like collecting it as goals from Wellington, Lucas Moura and Santos Cicero had it in control on the hour.

However, goals from substitute Lulinha and Leandros Matos tied things up, before Luiz Eduardo's 83rd-minute own goal capped the Bahia comeback. Rodrigo De Souza got the host's other goal, making it 1-1 early in the second half.

Atletico Mineiro beat mid-table Gremio 2-0 in the other game, with Andre De Souza and substitute Marcos Marquinhos netting in each half.

With Vasco Da Gama being held to a 0-0 draw by Sao Paolo, Adenor Bacchi's side had the chance to hit the front but that looked unlikely when Robson put Avai ahead in the 13th minute.

Its chances were reduced further when Leandro saw red (51), but goals from Emerson (62) and Liedson (78) sent it top.

Fifth-placed Flamengo was unable to stay on Corinthians' shoulder, though, losing 4-2 at Gremio.

Deivid gave it a 23rd-minute lead, but Andre Lima cancelled it out.

Back came Flamengo through Thiago Neves but after Andre Lima scored again the home side never looked back and late goals from Douglas and Miralles won it for it.

At Orlando Scarpelli, a second-half brace from well-travelled midfielder Fernandes helped Figueirense come from behind to beat Bahia 2-1.

Rodrigo de Souza gave the visitor the lead but Fernandes equalised just three minutes after coming on as a substitute, before winning it with 21 minutes left.

Bottom side America MG lost for the 15th time this season as it went down 3-1 at Coritiba.

Kempes did put it ahead early on but, once Coritiba levelled through Rafinha it was in charge and Davi Rodrigues and Jeci finished the job.

Gilson was sent off for MG late on.

Atletico Mineiro got the better of its mid-table battle with Palmeiras, winning 2-1.

Neto Berola gave it the lead and Fillipe Soutto made it two, before Luan made for a tense finish, even though his side had Mauricio Ramos and Valdivia sent off.

Elsewhere, Kleber's goal just shy of the hour-mark helped Internacional win 1-0 at Atletico Goianiense.

The 19-year-old starlet was simply unplayable at Estadio Urbano Caldeira, opening the scoring with a second-minute penalty.

Joffre Guerron levelled for Atletico seven minutes after the break, but Neymar scored a second spot-kick on 55 minutes, completed his hat-trick after 57 and then made it four with 20 remaining.

Elsewhere, Botafogo is third after a 1-0 win over Cruzeiro thanks to Sebastian Abreu`s goal 10 minutes after half-time.

In the day`s other game, two goals from Rafael Sobis helped Fluminese come from behind to win 2-1 at Ceara.

Felipe Azevedo netted a seventh-minute opener for the home side, but Sobis turned things around either side of the break.

Loureiro Felipe (23) and Diego Souza (90) scored the goals that moved Vasco into top spot, after erstwhile leader Corinthians was held to a 1-1 draw at Internacional.

Corinthians needed an 89th-minute equaliser by Alex to rescue a point after Claudinei Nei's 67th-minute opener for Internacional, which lost Andres D'Alessandro to a late red card.

Cruzeiro rallied for a 3-2 win over Atletico Goianiense. Atletico twice went ahead though Thiago Feltri (16) and Felipe (67), with Cruzeiro's leveller coming from Ernesto Farias on 42 minutes.

Ramon Anselmo made it 2-2 on 71 minutes before adding his second four minutes later to secure the points for Cruzeiro.

Flamengo and Santos drew 1-1, Neymar hitting a 49th-minute penalty for visiting Santos and Deivid with the equaliser 12 minutes from full-time.

Paulo Baier's 33rd-minute goal secured Atletico Paranaense a 1-0 win over Ceara, while the match between Sao Paulo and Coritiba ended goalless.

The visitor went in front through Sebastian Abreu on 10 minutes but Avai turned the tables with two goals in two minutes by Michael Robson and Cleverson around the quarter-hour.

Dirnei Renato pulled Botafogo level on 62 minutes but there was a late sting in the tail when Robert De Souza swept the ball home for Avai five minutes from full-time.

The defeat means Botafogo remain third, two points off the summit, while Avai stay in the relegation zone despite the three welcome points.

Fifth-placed Fluminense also spurned the chance to maintain the pressure on the leader with a 2-0 home defeat against Atletico Mineiro.

Atletico went ahead through a Daniel Carvalho penalty on 11 minutes before Andre De Souza doubled the lead just before the break. Fluminense ended the match a man light after Leandro Euzebio was dismissed for a second yellow card seven minutes from full-time.

Anderson's late strike rescued a 2-2 draw for bottom side America MG against Gremio.

Thiago Carleto fired America ahead on 11 minutes but the hosts were down to 10 men just after the half-hour when Marcos Rocha saw red.

Gremio capitalised from the dismissal to the tune of two goals, Andre Lima with a brace either side of the interval, but America rescued a point when Anderson netted on 86 minutes.

Figueirense was a 2-1 winner over Palmeiras thanks to goals by Wellington (11) and Julio Cesar (76). Ricardo Bueno replied for Palmeiras in stoppage time.

Goals by Neymar (15) and Borges (29) secured the points for Santos, who have climbed to 11th place in the standings.

Botafogo stays third, two points behind leader Corinthians and second-placed Vasco da Gama.

After a goalless first half Paulinho managed to find time and space to produce a 65th-minute winner and earn the Sao Paulo side a vital victory away from home.

The three points were all the more crucial as Vasco da Gama also won to remain level on points with the Timao.

Vasco was 2-0 winner at home to 10-man Atletico Mineiro, which had Serginho sent off on the hour.

The host was already home and dry by that point, though, with striker Elton and defender Fagner having put it two goals up after 18 minutes and with victory firmly in its sights.

Antonio Carlos and Sebastian Abreu scored in each half to help third-placed Botafogo to a 2-0 win at home to Atletico Paranaense.

Fluminense came away with a brilliant 2-1 win at Palmeiras thanks to early and late goals from goalpoacher Fred. Chile playmaker Jorge Valdivia had levelled from the spot before Fred's second, five minutes from time, restored the lead and snatched the win.

Struggling Santos was downed 1-0 at home to Gremio by Douglas' 20th-minute strike while Sao Paulo was handed a 3-0 beating away to Atletico Goianiense.

Internacional beat Avai 4-2 in Porto Alegre while Coritiba and Bahia cancelled each other out in a goalless draw.

The Rio de Janeiro giant is level 51 on points with Corinthians and Vasco da Gama, albeit having played a game more than the top two.

The win came despite star man Ronaldinho, recently recalled to the national team, being dismissed in the 51st minute.

After Deivid put Fla ahead four minutes before the break, Ronaldinho became embroiled in an incident with Ceara's Heleno after the break that saw both men sent off.

In added time, Ceara also had Filho Oswaldo sent off.

Figueirense beat America 2-1 at home as Julio Cesar scored two late goals.

Rodriguinho had put the visitor ahead in the first half.

After Corinthians suffered a surprising defeat by Botafogo 24 hours earlier, Vasco managed to partially capitalise after a brace from Elton saw the visitor come from two goals down to draw, after Paulo Baier and Joffre Gueron had put Atletico 2-0 up by half-time.

Santos was downed 2-1 away to Atletico Mineiro as star man Neymar saw red.

Humberlito Borges' penalty had cancelled out Humberto Rever's early opener but Magno Alves' own spot-kick won it for the home side in the 58th minute after Crystian was sent off in the incident.

Tempestuous striker Neymar was then dismissed five minutes from time.

Fluminense beat Coritiba 3-1 at home as poacher Fred scored a hat-trick with goals in the 24th, 72nd and 75th minutes. Marcos Aurelio had levelled for the visitor.

The visitor was fastest out of the blocks and a goal up in the 13th minute through Uruguayan veteran Sebastian Abreu's strike.

It was 2-0 in the 33rd minute when Maicosuel found time and space to beat Julio Cesar in the Corinthians goal and despite the dismissal of Bruno Cortes in the 59th minute, Botafogo eventually ran out a comfortable winner to overtake Sao Paulo in third after it was held to a goalless draw at home to Internacional.

Adilson Batista was able to field big guns Rivaldo, Dagoberto and Luis Fabiano but the stellar trio were unable to provide the cutting edge needed against a switched-on Inter side.

Indeed, the Porto Allege team had its own chances but in the end both sides had to share the points.

Traditional giants Flamengo and Palmeiras shared a 1-1 draw in Rio de Janeiro.

Thiago Neves edged the hosts in front 10 minutes after the break but just eight minutes later Palmeiras equalised through Maikon Leite's clever finish.

William's injury-time penalty earned Avai a 2-2 draw at home to Atletico Goianiense. William had earlier put the hosts ahead before two goals before the break saw Atletico storm back.

But after the 75th-minute dismissal of substitute Santos Agenor, William struck from the spot in the dying stages.

Mid-table Gremio lost 3-1 at home to Figueirense as Aloisio, Elias and Wellington all got on the scoresheet.

America MG's 4-1 win over Ceara was blighted by the late dismissal of substitute Emidio Flavio while Bahia and Cruzeiro drew 0-0.

Corinthians failed in an attempt to buy the wantaway Argentina international in the northern summer and Edu last week said they would not been renewing their interest.

The former Arsenal midfielder told BBC Sport: "At the moment there are no plans to try and sign him again."

However, Edu has now suggested the Brazilians could be back in the reckoning to re-sign their former player, who is currently suspended by City pending an investigation into an alleged refusal to play as a substitute.

Edu told Sky Sports News: "It was quite difficult to sign him because at the time it was shortly before our transfer window.

"Now we are here [in England] and we will talk and see what the situation is and we will look to sign him in the summer.

"I will talk to the president - we offered £40million and now the money we had we have spent some of as that is football.

"We want to see how Tevez is and what his situation is, we will see if we can do a deal - he is very famous in Brazil and everyone loves him, and the fans want him."

Edu, who played for Arsenal between 2001-05, was back in London last week for the Leaders in Football conference at Stamford Bridge.

While there he did meet with Tevez's advisor Kia Joorabchian but the pair did not speak specifically about the player.

Edu said: "I spoke to him at the congress, but...not really about Tevez yet.

"We are quite friendly and have a good relationship, but not about Tevez yet.

"It is a lot of things to think about. Carlos Tevez has a lot of things around him."

Tevez, 27, is due back at City this week after being suspended the day after the club's Champions League defeat at Bayern Munich on September 27.

Manager Roberto Mancini claimed the player refused to come off the bench to play when asked in the second half. He added that Tevez was "finished" at City as a result of the incident.

City is conducting an investigation into the events at the Allianz Arena but are yet to report its findings.

Tite's side, which started the match in second place behind Vasco da Gama, took an early lead through Jose Leandro with Gomes Willian getting the second goal seven minutes before half-time.

Meschini Alex effectively sealed the three points four minutes later.

Previous leader Vasco da Gama went down to a comprehensive 3-0 defeat to Internacional.

The host went ahead four minutes after the break through Andres D'Alessandro before Marcos Indio doubled the lead in the 76th minute.

Paulo Cesar Tinga scored the third a minute from time.

Two Dario Bottinelli goals in the last four minutes guided Flamengo to a 3-2 home win over Fluminense.

All five goals came in the final 31 minutes, Rafael Sobis putting Fluminense ahead (59) with Thiago Neves equalising nine minutes later.

Manuel Lanzini scored three minutes after coming on as a 75th-minute substitute and it appeared that would be sufficient for a Fluminense win.

However, Botinelli struck with four minutes left before striking the winner in the 89th minute.

Ceara and Figueirense shared a 1-1 draw in a match where the latter played the final 20 minutes with nine men.

Juninho put the visitor ahead in the 43rd minute before Mascarenhas Washington Luiz levelled on the stroke of half-time.

It then lost Maicon in the 64th minute and Vieira Do Nascimento Bruno six minutes later.

A Humberlito Borges goal was enough for Santos to beat Palmeiras while second bottom Avai enjoyed a vital 3-0 win over 10-man Atletico Paranaense.

All the goals came in the first 45 minutes through Cassio Lincoln (nine), Mariano Gian (33) and Luiz Rafael Coelho on the stroke of half-time.

Messias Manoel was sent off three minutes after the break to compound Atletico's misery.

It was Bahia, languishing towards the lower reaches of the table, who took a surprise lead through Rodrigo De Souza in the 28th minute.

However, it was reduced to 10 men 11 minutes later when Santos Helder was sent off.

Two goals in three minutes by Alex and Correa Caio saw Botafogo turn the match on its head but Bahia levelled again with a little under half an hour remaining when De Souza got his second.

Goals by Lima Marcos Aurelio (14') and Jeci (75') guided Coritiba to a 2-0 win over Gremio.

Bottom side America MG drew 0-0 with third bottom Atletico Paranaense.

In an exciting match, Sao Paulo also finished with 10-men when Denilson was sent off in the final minute.

Carneiro Keirrison put the host ahead in the 11th minute, a lead which lasted until the 59th minute when Santos Cicero levelled.

Pelentier Dagoberto then put Adilson Batista's side ahead five minutes later but Charles drew the host level in the 71st minute, heralding a spell of three goals in eight minutes.

Sao Paulo again pulled ahead in the 77th minute thanks to Junior Juan but its lead lasted just two minutes as Ramon Anselmo equalised.

The final minute then saw Denilson given his marching orders.

Sao Paulo stays in third, a point behind Corinthians and three adrift of leaders Vasco da Gama.

A ninth-minute goal by Brandao was enough to secure a 1-0 win for Gremio over Santos.

The midfielder opened his account seven minutes before the interval, adding a second in the 60th minute.

And he rounded off the scoring 10 minutes from time to keep Vasco ahead of its rivals.

Corinthians lies second after a 1-0 win at home to Bahia. Emerson scored the only goal after 58 minutes but his performance ended on a sour note when he was sent off six minutes from time.

Botafogo and Sao Paulo played out a 2-2 draw to slip below Corinthians in the standings.

Rivaldo's last-minute strike capped an impressive comeback for Sao Paulo, which came from two goals down to claim a point.

Sebastian Abreu's goals after 13 and 39 minutes, the second from the penalty spot, gave Botafogo the edge, but Henrique (65) pulled one back for the visitor before Rivaldo's late strike.

Goals from Mario Bolatti (26) and Fabricio (76) sealed a 2-1 win for Internacional at home to Atletico Mineiro.

Renan Oliveira (69) scored for the visitor while both teams had a player sent off, with Rodrigo Moledo red-carded for the host and Humberto Rever dismissed for Atletico.

Gremio was also a 2-1 winner at Avai, thanks to goals from Mario Fernandes (42) and Douglas (46). Pedro Ken replied after 69 minutes for the home side.

Ceara edged out Coritiba 3-2 with Roger scoring the decisive goal in the 69th minute. Roger also scored the home side's opener after seven minutes with Jose Edmilson (40) then adding his name to the tally.

Rosimar Amancio twice levelled for Coritiba after 19 and 48 minutes but in vain.

Atletico Goianiense overcame the dismissals of Anderson and Vitor Junior to secure a 1-1 draw at home to Palmeiras.

The home side trailed to Henrique's 24th-minute strike, but Thiago Feltri equalised 10 minutes from time.

The visitor looked to be heading for defeat when it trailed to a 63rd-minute goal from Paulo Baier.

But the dismissal of Santos eight minutes later threw Fluminense a lifeline, and it finally took advantage in the dying seconds when Fred scored from the penalty spot.

Fluminense lies five points behind pace-setter Vasco da Gama, but has Flamengo sitting on its shoulder after a late 2-1 win over basement side America MG.

The host fell behind to a 30th-minute penalty from Everton Kempes, but substitute Deivid equalised after 61 minutes before Thiago Neves struck the winner two minutes from time.

Figueirense also had a late goal to thank for its 3-2 victory at Santos.

The visitor twice took the lead through Julio Cesar (9) and Wellington Silva (26), only for Humberlito Borges (24) and Leo (45) to pull Santos level.

And the scores remained locked at 2-2 until Julio Cesar put away a penalty six minutes from time, with the win taking 10th-placed Figueirense above its opponent in the standings.

The host side trailed to a 23rd-minute goal from Anselmo, but was back on level terms 10 minutes later thanks to Diego Souza.

The result lifts Vasco above Sao Paulo by a single point, while Botafogo now lies just two points off the summit following a 1-0 win at Gremio.

Washington Abreu found the target for Botafogo after 65 minutes.

Palmeiras was also a 1-0 winner over Ceara thanks to an own goal from Thiago Matias two minutes before the interval.

The victory sees Palmeiras move up to seventh in the table.

The result sees Sao Paulo join previous leader Vasco da Gama on 45 points with Corinthians lying one point further back in a close-knit top three.

Fluminese sits five points off the lead following a 3-1 victory over Avai.

Fred's sixth-minute strike was cancelled out by William three minutes later, but Fred struck again 10 minutes before the interval and Alejandro Martinuccio made certain of the points after 78 minutes.

Flamengo dropped out of the top five with a 1-1 draw at Atletico Mineiro. Ronaldinho's 62nd-minute goal rescued a point for the visitor after Daniel Carvalho (49) had fired Atletico in front.

The host finished the match with 10 men following the late dismissal of Serginho.

America MG remains at the foot of the standings after a 2-1 defeat at home to Santos.

Everton Kempes (66) had responded to a 62nd-minute opener for Santos from Humberlito Borges, but Edu Dracena sealed the win 12 minutes from time.

A 77th-minute goal from Junior earned Bahia a 1-0 win at home to Atletico Paranaense.

Coritiba was a 2-1 victor over Cruzeiro.

Marcos Aurelio (22) and Rosimar Bill (58) were on target for Coritiba with Bobo replying for the visitors after 65 minutes.

Figueirense and Internacional played out a 1-1 draw. Maciel Ygor fired the home side in front after 38 minutes but Jo equalised for Internacional four minutes into the second half.

Neymar has repeatedly been linked with a move to Europe with reports this week suggesting he had undergone a medical in Sao Paulo ahead of a January move to Real Madrid.

The 19-year-old rubbished those claims though and said he intended to remain at Santos until after its centenary season next year.

"I have been sold like 30 times," Neymar was quoted as saying by Lancenet.

"There is no truth to that, I am a player of Santos and I will stay here to play at the club's centenary.

"That is all speculation, there is no deal. I went to the hospital to solve a personal problem."

Neymar's agent is his father and the striker, capped 12 times for Brazil, re-iterated any decision to move would be made in conjunction with his family.

"The final word was always been for me and my father," he said.

"You know very well that my father takes care of my career. He takes care of everything and nothing has changed.

"My decision is that I'm very happy here and that's where I want to be.

"Santos is a club that I love and it has been agreed between my father, me and the president that I will not leave in the next transfer window."

Da Silva Liedson fired the home side in front after just 12 minutes, but Santos hit back through Lima Henrique (37), Humberlito Borges (53) and Alan Kardec (80).

The visitor even survived having Henrique sent off midway through the second half.

Elsewhere, Atletico Paranaense and Figueirense drew 0-0, while Avai and Palmeiras also shared the spoils after a 1-1 draw which saw three players sent off.

Jose Batista put Avai in front after five minutes and Palmeiras looked in deep trouble when Barbosa Rivaldo was sent off just 18 minutes later.

However, Luis Chico (41) equalised before his side was reduced to nine men with the dismissal of substitute Ferreira Gerley on 48 minutes. Avai failed to take advantage and had Rafael Coelho sent off just after the hour.

Fluminense also had a man sent off as it went down 3-0 at Bahia, which opened the scoring on 27 minutes through Rodrigo De Souza.

An own goal from Wellington Gum doubled Bahia's lead and the game was over when Gum was sent off 20 minutes from time and De Souza scored his second from the penalty spot.

Botafogo and Flamengo drew 1-1 with Vieira Jael's 49th-minute equaliser for the visitor cancelling out Loco Abreu's opener in the first half.

And the game between Internacional and Coritiba also finished 1-1, Oscar scoring in the first minute for Internacional but Emerson equalising early in the second half.

Cruzeiro and bottom side America MG played out a goalless draw.

The 46-year-old has been out of intensive care for the past five days and is showing no signs of complications.

"The plan is that he can be discharged in the next 72 hours," doctors added on Saturday.

Ricardo felt unwell during the second half of the match and was rushed to the Pasteur Hospital after receiving medical care in the stadium.

The former coach of French clubs Paris St Germain, Monaco and Bordeaux was placed in an artificial coma on 28 August.

Born in 1964 in Rio, Ricardo played for Fluminense, PSG and Portuguese giant Benfica and made 48 appearances for Brazil.

After his spell in France he returned to his homeland to coach Sao Paulo before moving to Vasco da Gama.

Sao Paulo eased to victory over Ceara with Junior Juan opening the scoring on 42 minutes and Ivan Piris making it 2-0 just two minutes later.

Carlos Casemiro made it 3-0 on 66 minutes and Vitor Rivaldo completed the rout 18 minutes from time.

Vasco da Gama was similarly untroubled against Gremio, with Elton scoring after just three minutes and Diego Souza doubling the lead just after the half-hour.

Any hopes of a fightback were ended when Oliveira Eder Luis made it 3-0 early in the second half, while Conserva Fagner (61) completed the scoring.

There was only one goal in the day's other game, Vitor Junior (61) giving Atletico Goianiense a 1-0 win over Atletico Mineiro.

Pacesetter Corinthians came unstuck at Fluminense, which moves up to fifth as a result of Fred's 22nd-minute decider.

However, Sao Paulo could not capitalise, falling to a 1-0 defeat at Gremio, with Dos Santos Douglas netting the only goal in the 64th minute.

The result means Vasco da Gama moves above Sao Paulo into second - but it could only manage a 1-1 draw with Figueirense.

Silva Wellington gave the home side a fourth-minute lead and although Vasco da Gama was level 12 minutes later courtesy of Conserva Fagner, it could not find a winner which would have taken it to the top of the table.

However, the night's big shock saw fourth-placed Botafogo crash to a 5-0 loss at Coritiba.

Emerson broke the deadlock in the 43rd minute and the floodgates opened in the second half with Marcos Aurelio (penalty), Rosimar Bill, Rafinha and Everton Costa all finding the target.

Flamengo slips to sixth after a 2-1 home defeat to Atletico Paranaense, which played a quarter of the game with 10 men.

Aguiar Heracles and Joffre Guerron gave the visitor a 2-0 lead, before Guerron saw red - but all Flamengo could manage was Welinton Souza's 81st-minute goal.

Internacional is up to seventh after a 3-0 win at Palmeiras - with Leandro Damiao's hat-trick enabling it to move above its opponent.

Felipe's 87th-minute goal gave Atletico Goianiense a 1-1 draw at Ceara, which had led through Egidio's 37th-minute goal, while two goals from Magno Alves - one a penalty - enabled Atletico Mineiro to move above fellow struggler Bahia with a 2-0 home win. The visitor had Paulo Miranda dismissed.

Things looked promising for the bottom side when Gilson opened the scoring in the eighth minute and Andre Dias doubled the advantage 19 minutes later.

However, Souza William's 77th-minute goal gave Avai hope and it earned a point courtesy of Cleverson's 81st-minute leveller.

Elsewhere, Santos moved above Cruzeiro into mid-table courtesy of Humberlito Borges' 12th-minute goal.

The visitor's hopes of earning something from the game disappeared in the last 25 minutes, when it had Leonardo and Fabricio dismissed.

De Souza Deivid gave fifth-placed Flamengo a 28th-minute lead but Liedson levelled just past the hour mark and won the contest for the host two minutes from time.

The win lifts Corinthians two points clear of city rival Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro's Vasco da Gama at the top.

Vasco moved level with Sao Paulo courtesy of a 2-0 defeat of Coritiba, provided by goals from Juninho (28) and Romulo (55).

Gremio was also victorious, with Evaeverson da Silva (28) and Damian Escudero (35) setting up a 2-1 victory over host Bahia, which replied through Rodrigo De Souza's 57th-minute penalty.

Buss Henrique gave Palmeiras - beaten in just four of its previous 21 games - a 14th-minute lead in Curitiba.

Although Joffre Gueron levelled in the 34th minute, the home side was up against it when Cleber Santana was dismissed two minutes later.

Jose De Santana restored Palmeiras' lead in the 52nd minute - but the second from bottom home side grabbed a point with Marcinho's penalty 20 minutes from time.

Mid-table Atletico Goianiense and Figueirense shared two goals, with Silva Wellington giving Figueirense a 10th-minute lead, only for Santos Agenor to level four minutes later.

Fluminense was the only winner in the latest round of matches, with Fred (34') and Marquinho (62') giving it a 2-1 win at Cruzeiro, who replied through Walter Montillo (69').

The host made a flying start when Lucas scored in the opening minute and, while Atletico levelled through Rever on 10 minutes, Dagoberto clinched the win on the hour.

Atletico's hopes of recovering for a second time were undermined by Leonardo Silva's 79th-minute dismissal.

Sao Paulo is now a point clear at the top although it has played a game more than Corinthians and in-form Botafogo, which thrashed Ceara 4-0.

Botafogo's fourth successive win was built on German Herrera's double either side of the break.

Sebastian Abreu and Cidinho added further goals as Ceara, which had Fabricio sent off just before half-time, was cast aside.

Internacional scored three times inside the opening 15 minutes as it beat bottom-placed America MG 4-2 to end its four-game winless streak.

The Porto Alegre side was in control thanks to the early strikes from Rodrigo Moleda (two minutes), Leandro Damiano (eight) and Andres D'Alessandro (14).

Andre Dias (24) replied for America as a six-goal half was completed by Oscar (34) and Kempes (36).

Santos recovered from a goal down to beat Avai 2-1 with two late goals.

Avai went ahead through William's 33rd-minute penalty but Santos stormed ahead when Borges (70) and Felipe Anderson (76) struck in quick succession.

The Sao Paulo giant was beaten by a Jonas goal in the 72nd minute but Vasco da Gama's shock 4-1 defeat at America MG kept it in pole position for the title.

Vasco, which is third, had not lost any of its previous five league matches but came unstuck in Belo Horizonte as America recorded only its third league success of the season.

Andre Dias put the host ahead in the 19th minute but Vasco quickly hit back through Juninho's 21st-minute leveller.

Kempes' penalty restored America's lead three minutes before half-time and it ensured victory thanks to second-half goals from Marcos Rocha (58) and Dias (85).

Fifth-placed Flamengo extended its winless run to six games, going down 3-1 at home to Bahia. Titi gave the visitor the lead midway through the first half but Renato pulled Flamengo level in the 29th minute.

Dodo put Bahia back in front within four minutes and Souza made it 3-1 on the stroke of half-time.

Andre Lima fired a hat-trick as Gremio hammered Atletico Paranaense 4-0, with Damian Escudero giving the Porto Alegre side the lead in the 19th minute before Lima's goals came in the 32nd, 60th and 66th minutes, the last of them from the penalty spot.

Gremio's city rival Internacional drew 1-1 at Ceara as former Manchester City striker Jo drew it level a minute into the second half after Washington Luiz's 35th-minute spot-kick for the host.

Palmeiras and Cruzeiro drew 1-1 in Sao Paulo, with Luan on target for Palmeiras in the 68th minute before Walter Montillo equalised six minutes from time.

The former Barcelona forward, who won the World Cup with Brazil in 2002, is now 39 but proved his worth to Sao Paulo by grabbing the goal away to Figueirense which sealed a 2-1 win on the hour, having come on at half-time.

Sao Paulo had failed to win any of its previous four league games but forged ahead three minutes before the break through Cicero. Figueirense levelled in the 48th minute through Joao Paulo before Rivaldo became the hero, lifting his side into second, above Vasco da Gama on goal difference.

Leaders Corinthians and Vasco are both away from home on Sunday afternoon (local time), taking on Coritiba and America MG respectively.

Elsewhere, Fluminense completed a remarkable comeback in the last eight minutes to win 3-2 at home to Atletico Goianiense to move up to seventh.

Atletico led thanks to penalties from Bida (10) and Marcio (62) but a brace from Rafael Sobis (82 and 86) drew Flu level before Rafael Moura completed the recovery in the final moments.

Atletico Mineiro climbed out of the bottom four with a 2-0 win over fellow struggler Avai. An own goal by Leocadio in the 28th minute and a 79th-minute effort from Daniel Carvalho sealed back-to-back victories for Atletico, which beat Atletico Paranaense in midweek to end a six-match winless league run.

America saw its Belo Horizonte rival Atletico Mineiro move from 15 to 18 points with a victory over fellow struggler Atletico Paranaense in midweek, and its inability to gain more than a point at Bahia means it will take at least two games for it to climb off the bottom of the table.

Bahia is seven points better off than America, with this result its ninth draw in 20 league games.

The federation said in a statement on Thursday that the ban for the Mancha Alviverde group will endure until authorities finish their investigation and punish those responsible for the confrontation.

One of the fans shot before last weekend's match against Corinthians in Presidente Prudente remains in serious condition.

The ban comes even after police admitted that the shots may have come from officers trying to contain the altercation. The case remains under investigation.

Eight-time champion Palmeiras is the fourth most popular club in Brazil, behind Flamengo, Corinthians and Sao Paulo.

The Sao Paulo giant is two points clear of Vasco da Gama at the top as Flamengo dropped to fourth after losing 3-2 away to Avai.

Corinthians took the lead at home through Chicao's 17th-minute penalty but Douglas scored in the 39th minute to give Gremio parity at half-time.

Paulinho restored the host's advantage in the 64th minute and Ramon Motta made it 3-1 soon afterwards but it was immediately weakened by the dismissal of Liedson.

Andre Lima pulled one back for Gremio (73') but despite Edenilson following Liedson down the tunnel, Corinthians held on.

An Elton brace (51' and 64') helped Vasco da Gama to a 3-1 home win over Ceara.

Eder Luis added Vasco's second in the 61st minute with Washington grabbing Ceara's goal between that strike and Elton's second.

Botafogo is a point behind Vasco in third as it beat Palmeiras 3-1 for its third straight win. German Herrera gave it the perfect start with a goal after two minutes and Gustavo (22') put it 2-0 up at the break. Maicosuel added a third in the 62nd minute before Marcos Assuncao notched a last-minute consolation for the visitor.

Flamengo has now gone six league matches without a win as Avai this time took advantage.

Robson put Avai ahead in the third minute but Ronaldinho levelled for Flamengo 33 minutes later. Quickfire goals from Cassio (69') and Rafael Coelho (72') restored Avai's advantage and although Ronaldinho cut the gap to one with two minutes left, the home side was able to register its fifth league win in 20 games.

Sao Paulo slipped to fifth with a 2-1 home defeat to Fluminense. Manuel Lanzini gave the visitor a 17th-minute lead and Rafael Sobis doubled its advantage in the 64th minute. Sao Paulo goalkeeper Rogerio Ceni pulled one back (74') but its hopes of completing a comeback was dashed by the dismissal of Jean eight minutes later.

Sao Paulo faces Figueirense next, who won 4-2 at Cruzeiro on Wednesday night.

Julio Cesar started and finished the scoring for Figueirense in the 28th and 58th minute, with Elias (34') and Wellington (50') on target in between. Charles was on target twice for the host (37' and 60').

Atletico Mineiro ended a six-match run without a win in the league by beating Atletico Paranaense 1-0. Mancini notched the only goal to take Mineiro above its opponent on goal difference.

Santos stormed back from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 with Internacional in Porto Alegre thanks to goals from Borges (75'), Alan Kardec (80') and Borges again (86').

The home side had looked on course for a comfortable win as goals from Bolivar in the seventh minute, Leandro Damiao (17') and Oscar's 71st-minute penalty appeared to put it in control.

Atletico Goianiense was a 3-1 winner over Coritiba as Marcio gave it a 33rd-minute lead from the penalty spot. Agenor doubled its advantage (63'), Aquino pulled one back for Coritiba in the 85th minute but the host made sure through Anselmo in the final minute.

Marcio Emerson put Corinthians ahead in the 18th minute but goals by Michel Luan (34) and Jose De Santana (51) gave the host victory as it maintained its five-point lead in sixth.

Flamengo could have leapfrogged Corinthians with victory over Vasco da Gama.

Its task was made harder when Silva Welinton Souza was sent off four minutes before half-time but neither side could make the breakthrough.

Flamengo is a point behind Corinthians with Sao Paulo a further point adrift after it drew 1-1 at Santos.

The visitor was reduced to 10 men when Junior Carlinhos Paraiba was sent off in the 24th minute but it went ahead on the stroke of half-time through Da Silva Lucas Moura.

However, it could not hold on and Paulo Henrique Ganso equalised with 10 minutes to go.

Walter Montillo scored three minutes from time to guide Cruzeiro to a 2-1 win at struggling Atletico Mineiro.

Montillo had put the visitor ahead in the 11th minute before Ferreira Fillipo Soutto levelled 11 minutes after the break.

Atletico though could not hold on for a vital point as Montillo intervened.

The defeat was compounded when Avai leapfrogged it with a late 3-2 win at Figueirense.

Maciel Ygor put the host ahead in the 18th minute with Souza Cassio equalising (38) but Julio Cesar restored the lead a minute before half-time.

Souza William levelled the scores on the hour and then grabbed the winner with four minutes left.

Gomes Thiago Humberto (16), Dos Santos Felip Azevedo (80) and Jose Edmilson De Moraes (90) guided Ceara to a 3-0 win over Bahia.

Gremio beat Internacional 2-1 thanks to a goal by Vicente Marquinhos (16) and a Dos Santos Douglas penalty (79).

Marcos Indio (26) scored for Internacional.

All the goals came in an eight-minute spell in the second half, Fred putting the host ahead in the 55th minute.

However, the lead lasted just one minute with Oliveira Elkeson equalising before Marques Lucas scored the winner seven minutes later.

Victory sees Botafogo move to within three points of leader Corinthians.

America MG remain at the bottom of the table after it squandered the lead to go down 2-1 to Atletico Goianiense.

Pereira William Rocha put the host ahead (28) but a Juninho double (70, 76) saw Atletico claim all three points.

Coritiba and Atletico Paranaense shared a 1-1 draw.

Emerson put Coritiba ahead in the 23rd minute with Edilson Guimaraes replying midway through the second half.

Borges opened the scoring in the 13th minute only for Rafael Moura to equalise in the 38th minute.

However, the scores were level for just three minutes when Borges claimed his second goal.

The victory sees Santos inch away from the wrong end of the table.

Victory would have put Flamengo level with the leader on 37 points but it twice surrendered the lead as goals from Ronaldinho and Jael were cancelled out by Marcos Indio and Leandro Damiao.

Internacional had to cope with the sending off of Pablo Guinazu after 45 minutes.

Sao Paulo and Vasco da Gama also missed the chance to keep pressure on the pacesetters, held 1-1 by Palmeiras and Fluminense respectively.

Sao Paulo took the lead through Dagoberto (42) before Buss Henrique (61) levelled.

Vasco da Gama also went ahead in its match via Juninho's 36th-minute penalty only for Rafael Moura to equalise for Fluminense.

Atletico Paranaense drew 2-2 with bottom club America MG after going two up through Marcinho and Edigar.

Kempes and Andre Dias hauled their side back into it.

Avai and Coritiba drew 0-0 and Atletico Goianiense edged Gremio 1-0. Diogo netted the winner in the final minute after Rafael Marques was dismissed for Gremio with 14 minutes to play.

Alan Kadlec scored a late winner for Santos over Bahia after Junior had matched Neymar's fourth-minute penalty.

Wellington scored first in the 34th minute, with Wilson Pittoni snatching a second in the last minute.

It was not enough to topple Corinthians from top spot but it can now be caught by Flamengo if it wins its game in hand.

Botafogo defeated struggling Atletico Mineiro 3-1.

Elkeson opened the scoring after 16 minutes and Felipe Menezes scored either side of half-time before a late consolation from Andre De Souza.

Walter Montillo's 71st-minute penalty was the only goal as Cruzeiro edged visiting Ceara.

Pituca and Juninho made it 2-0 to the visitors at half-time, with Anselmo and Diogo Campos doubling the lead before Jael's late consolation.

Joilson saw red for Goianiense four minutes from time.

Third-placed Sao Paulo was held 1-1 by America MG.

Sao Paulo thought it had stolen the game with Bonfim Marlos' 85th-minute strike only for Everton Kempes to level matters just a minute later.

Palmeiras drew 1-1 with Bahia, with Jorge Valdivia (53) and Christian Titi (67) trading goals.

Dudu put Mineiro ahead after 13 minutes, with Guilherme doubling the lead with a 27th-minute penalty.

Emerson pulled one back early in the second period, which was only seven minutes old when Rever earned a red card and allowed Alex to equalise from the spot.

Liedson won it for Corinthians with 18 minutes to spare.

Coritiba defeated nine-man Santos 3-2 courtesy of Leonardo Gago's 87th-minute winner.

Humberlito Borges twice put Santos in front, only for leveller's from Jeci and Marcos Aurelio to set the stage for Gago's late effort.

By then both Para and Edu Dracena had been dismissed.

Internacional saw off Botafogo 1-0, with Leandro Damiao netting in the 57th minute.

Ceara snatched a late equaliser to draw away to Corinthians, while Flamengo led 2-0 against Figueirense before being pegged back.

Corinthians went ahead after 24 minutes against Ceara when Paulinho's 20-yard drive went under goalkeeper Diego, who appeared to be at fault.

The home defence then hesitated badly to allow Ceara striker Oswaldo through for a leveller on the half-hour mark, but Corinthians was back in front a minute later thanks to a majestic left-footed 30-yard shot from Alex into the top left corner.

That looked like being enough, but midfielder Rudnei poached a close-range equaliser for mid-table Ceara with six minutes remaining.

Corinthians remains level on points with Flamengo at the top of the table, both with 34 from 16 games, but Corinthians leads the way on games won - 10 to nine.

Flamengo is still unbeaten, but it will know it should have converted its lead over Figueirense into three points.

Headed goals from Deivid in the 36th and 50th minutes put Flamengo in charge, but Somalia drilled a reply after 53 minutes and Edson headed an equaliser with 20 minutes to play.

Vasco da Gama climbed above Botafogo to reach fourth place in the table with a 1-0 success over Palmeiras, with substitute Bernardo curling a 30-yard free-kick for the winner in the 80th minute.

Goals from Bill (32), Rafinha (76) and Leonardo (89) - a penalty - earned Coritiba a 3-0 home win over Atletico Mineiro, which had Serginho sent off.

Gremio beat Fluminense 2-1, despite going behind to Fred's header after 24 minutes. Marquinhos replied with a deflected equaliser after 30 minutes and a winner direct from a 25-yard free-kick just before half-time.

Bahia and Internacional both had a player sent off in a heated 1-1 draw.

Leandro Damiao put Internacional ahead after 41 minutes, and it had a one-man advantage when Fabinho was sent off on the hour for Bahia.

Internacional's Indio was sent off for a foul from a corner though, his second bookable offence, and that gave Bahia a penalty in the 79th minute, which Jobson converted.

The result took Sao Paulo to one point behind co-leaders Corinthians and Flamengo, who both have a game in hand.

Struggler Atletico went ahead after 21 minutes when Fransergio got ahead of his marker to head in from a free-kick, but the lead lasted just three minutes before Ilsinho cracked in a superb 22-yard strike after creating space for the shot with some neat footwork.

The visitor regained the lead after 77 minutes when Edigar drilled a left-footed shot low past Rogerio Ceni, but substitute Rivaldo, the 39-year-old former FIFA world player of the year, bundled home a last-minute leveller to earn the draw.

Botafogo climbed two places to move to fourth in the table after a 4-2 home win over America Mineiro, in which it fell two goals behind inside eight minutes but came back strongly.

Alessandro netted after two minutes and Rodriguinho doubled America's lead in the eighth minute, but Botafogo pulled a goal back through Elkeson after 31 minutes.

The host grew in strength after half-time and levelled through Antonio Carlos in the 63rd minute before Alex scored twice, in the 76th and 79th minutes, the second a penalty, to take the game away from America.

Cruzeiro crushed Avai 5-0, with goals from Fabricio, Anselmo Ramon, Walter Montillo, Thiago Ribeiro and Jose Maria Ortigoza.

Montillo's goal, Cruzeiro's third, was a penalty in the 44th minute after Wellington Paulista was brought down by Welton Felipe, who was sent off. Ortigoza's strike, a curling left-footed shot from the right into the far top corner, was the pick of the goals.

Atletico Goianiense beat Santos 2-0, with second-half goals from Anselmo, in the 69th minute, and Diogo Campos, in the 80th minute.

The new leaders climbed above Flamengo, who remain unbeaten, by taking a point from its 15th game of the season to join the previous front-runners on 33 points.

By virtue of having 10 wins to Flamengo's nine, Corinthians take over first place.

The draw nudges Santos to 15 points, up two places to 14th in the 20-team league.

On Tuesday he praised Real's Spanish league rival Barcelona and insisted he is not ready to join either club.

"Neither Madrid nor Barcelona interest me right now," he told Spanish sports papers in Germany on Monday when asked about his reported transfer to Madrid.

"I said all I had to say and everyone knows it."

Spanish sports daily Marca reported on Sunday that Real Madrid had reached a preliminary deal with Santos to sign the 19-year-old striker in December, after the World Club Cup in Japan.

It said the deal would be announced this week, and Neymar would arrive in Madrid on 20 December.

In an interview released on Tuesday on the website of football's world governing body FIFA, Neymar also declared Barcelona as 'the best team in the world and they've got the world's best player in their side'.

If Santos meets the Spanish and European champion in the World Club Cup it will be 'a very tough task'.

Neymar added: "I don't think there's any particular tactics you can use. We'll just have to pray, ask for God's help and give it our best shot."

Another sports daily, AS, said on Tuesday that Neymar's 'praise of Barcelona has caused concern in Madrid'.

Neymar, fresh from winning the Copa Libertadores with Santos, has been linked for months to a move to Real Madrid or English Premier League side Chelsea.

The host took a 35th-minute lead through Cleber Santana's penalty, but Corinthians levelled with another spot-kick, this one from Alex Meschini two minutes into the second half.

The result leaves Corinthians a point behind leader Flamengo, although Corinthians still has a game in hand.

Sao Paulo sits third, two points off the summit, after a 2-1 away win over Avai.

Two quick goals from Santos Cicero in the 65th and 69th minutes brought it from behind after William Souza put the host in front on the hour mark.

Sao Paulo now holds a four-point advantage over fourth-placed Vasco da Gama, which suffered a 4-0 reverse away to Botafogo and finished the game with 10 men.

Antonio Carlos put the host ahead nine minutes in and two goals from Loco Abreu had it 3-0 up at half-time.

Things got worse for Vasco when Diego Souza was sent off in the 66th minute, and German Herrera capped it for Botafogo with a last-minute strike.

Basement side America MG picked up only its second win of the season and did so in convincing fashion as it saw off Fluminense 3-0.

Rodrigo Rodriguinho put it ahead after 10 minutes and Nascimento Alessandro doubled the lead from the penalty spot eight minutes into the second half.

After Wellington Gum was sent off for the visitor with 19 minutes to go, Marcos Rocha added a third for America.

Leandro Fahel grabbed the winner with 17 minutes left as Bahia beat Atletico Goianiense 2-1.

Cesar Juninho had struck two minutes into the second half to cancel out Jobson De Oliveira's opener but Fahel ensured the host got the points.

Internacional came from behind to beat Cruzeiro 3-2.

Ramon Anselmo gave the visitor an 11th-minute lead, but Andres D'Alessandro levelled from the penalty spot nine minutes later.

Luiz Andrezinho added a second before half-time and Leandro Damiao made it 3-1 in the 73rd minute.

Leandro Guerreiro got the visitor back in it with nine minutes to go, but it could not find an equaliser and ended the game with 10 men as Gil Bahia saw red in the final minute.

Humberlitos Borges scored in the 32nd minute to give Santos a 1-0 win over Ceara.

"My objective is to do my best with Flamengo and if the coach needs me I will be ready," said Ronaldinho, who returned home in January 2011 after a two-and-a-half year spell with Serie A giant AC Milan.

After missing the 2010 World Cup in South Africa when then coach Dunga left him out of his 23-man travelling party, Ronaldinho believes he can still do a job for Mano Menezes's squad up to and including the 2014 World Cup, which Brazil is hosting.

Menezes, who replaced Dunga after the 2010 campaign, selected Ronaldinho for a friendly against Argentina in Doha last November but he has since been left out of squads for a string of friendlies and the Copa America last month.

But having scored a memorable hat-trick for Flamengo in a 5-4 win over league rival Santos last month, the 31-year-old Ronaldinho is firmly back in the public domain - and wants Menezes to sit up and take notice.

"It's the moment I've been dreaming of (to return to the Brazil squad). Physically, I'm in top form," he added.

"From now until the World Cup a lot of things can happen, but I believe I can make a positive contribution to the national team."

Brazil's next game is a friendly against Germany in Stuttgart on 10 August.

The 19-year-old, fresh from winning the Copa Libertadores with Santos, has been linked for months to a move to Real Madrid or English Premier League side Chelsea.

'The club has agreed to the request of the player and postponed his arrival until after the World Club Cup' - to be held in Japan from 8-18 December 'so the player would celebrate Christmas as a brand new Real Madrid player', the sports daily Marca said on its website.

It said the deal will be announced this week, and Neymar would arrive in Madrid on 20 December.

Neymar's current deal with Santos is worth almost US$2 million ($1.92 million) a season through to 2015.

The win moves Flamengo two points clear of Corinthians, though it has played two games more.

A first-half brace from Elias De Olivera helped Figueirense to a 2-1 away win over Atletico Mineiro.

De Olivera scored in the eight and 45th minutes to put the visitor in control.

Dudu Cearense got one back for the host two minutes into the second half but it could not find an equaliser.

Palmeiras and Gremio shared the spoils from a goalless draw.

Goalkeeper Rogerio Ceni got the first with a trademark penalty in the 29th minute, and Dagoberto doubled the lead moments before half-time.

Lucas da Silva added a third five minutes into the second half, but soon after Ivan Piris was shown a second yellow card, and Sao Paolo consolidated their lead.

Atletico Paranaense was a 3-0 winner away from home over Atletico Goianiense.

Fabricio Dornellas got the first just before half-time, and late strikes from Messias Manoel and Kleberson made sure of the points.

Goals in the second half saw Fluminense beat Internacional 2-0.

Williamis De Souza scored in the 55th minute and Rafael Moura added a second from the penalty spot four minutes from time.

Luis Alvaro De Oliveira has admitted to holding talks with his counterparts at Barcelona and Real Madrid, Sandro Rosell and Florentino Perez, regarding the 19-year-old.

But the Brazilian club is determined that he will spearhead its FIFA Club World Cup campaign in December and play for it in 2012, its centenary year.

De Oliveira told radio programme Al Primer Toque: "Rosell has asked me about Neymar, but we do not want to sell him, at the earliest, until next year.

"I have spoken to Rosell, he is an interesting and elegant man, like Perez. I met him at the farewell for (former Brazil and Barca striker) Ronaldo. Neymar is not only wanted by Madrid, he is of interest to Barcelona, Chelsea, Juventus, Paris St Germain. It is normal.

"There will always be dialogue, but we want Neymar to fulfil his contract with Santos."

Neymar's deal with Santos is due to expire in mid-2014.

Jorge Henrique put it ahead a minute into the match, and although Everton Kempes levelled for the visitor just before the quarter-hour mark, Paulinho got the winner midway through the second half and America had Nascimento Gilson sent off moments later.

Flamengo kept pace with a 1-0 win away to Cruzeiro.

Deivid de Souza got the crucial goal on the stroke of half-time to move Flamengo on to 30 points from its 14 games, although Corinthians, on 31, has a game in hand.

Vasco da Gama is a further three points back in third after keeping pace with a 2-0 win over Santos.

Andrade Diego Souza got the opener after only two minutes and Anderson Dede's 20th minute goal made sure of the points.

That saw Vasco move above Palmeiras, who was held to a 1-1 draw at Coritiba and finished the game with 10 men.

The host grabbed an eighth minute lead through Jeci dos Santos, but Palmeiras levelled after 19 minutes through Marcos Assuncao.

Its efforts to find a winner were dealt a blow in the 76th minute when Thiago Heleno was sent off.

First-half goals from Edson da Silva and Julio Cesar, the second a penalty, gave Figueirense a 2-0 win over Botafogo.

However, Edson blotted his copybook with a second yellow card in the 65th minute, and the sides were levelled up in the dying seconds when the visitor had Matos Maicosuel dismissed for a second bookable offence.

Avai climbed away from the foot of the table with a rare but convincing away win as it beat Ceara 3-0.

William Souza opened the scoring in the 19th minute, but the other two goals came after the 66th minute dismissal of Ceara's Wellington Vicente for a second bookable offence.

Rafael Luiz scored in the 81st minute and Cleverson added a third in the dying seconds.

Leonardo Silva struck at the death to earn Atletico Mineiro a share of the spoils in a 2-2 draw away to Gremio.

Atletico's Andre De Souza had needed just a minute to cancel out Leandro's 50th minute opener for Gremio, but the host was back in front on Fabio Rochemback's 79th minute penalty before Silva's late strike.

The Brazilian great needed an honorary ambassadorship from the government to attend the Rio de Janeiro event on Saturday.

Teixeira is also the president of the World Cup's local organising committee.

He has been regularly attacked by the Brazilian media for alleged irregularities while running football in the country. A march in protest against his reign was held before the draw.

"I have not had a fight with Ricardo Teixeira. It is not true, I respect him. It wasn't really anything," Pele said on Tuesday from London.

"We want to have an excellent World Cup and that is what we're going to try and do. He has his problems with the media who don't like him but I hope this doesn't affect the football.

"For me and for football in Brazil, I think we can not worry about a small problem."

FIFA is concerned at the slow pace of preparations for the tournament and fears that some facilities - including a potential venue for the final, Rio de Janeiro's iconic Maracana stadium - will only be ready with a few weeks to spare.

There had even been concerns that Sao Paulo, the largest city in Brazil, wouldn't be able to host any matches.

"It was something that scared us a bit because Sao Paulo is the capital of football in Brazil. It's the only thing that worried us a bit," Pele said.

"The rest of Brazil, no problem."

Pele was also asked whether Neymar, a young striker at his old club Santos, would come play in the Premier League amid constant speculation linking him with a move to England.

"He's a good player who could play in any team, but it's hard to say if he'll come to Europe or not," Pele said.

"Last year he had the same proposals but he decided to play another year in Brazil. And I think it was good for him, because to play in England I think it would have been a little complicated for him.

"The style of Neymar - in England, Germany, Italy - it's a little complicated because the marking is very tight. I hope he stays in Brazil until the World Cup."

Pele was in London to promote the New York Cosmos.

Ribeiro has insisted that the 19-year-old Brazil international is not for sale amid speculation linking him with a move to Europe, and reiterated that stance before revealing details of Madrid's approach.

"We have no interest in selling Neymar and we have formally communicated this," Ribeiro was quoted as saying on www.lancenet.com.br.

"It's the same proposal. We had been given until end of the month to respond and had already decided the answer was no and now we've formalised this.

"The offer had two possibilities - take it now or later, but we do not want either."

Corinthians took the lead on the half-hour mark through Emerson's effort, but William levelled three minutes after the restart and a double from Rafael Coelho put the host in control.

Jorge Henrique pulled one back in the last minute but it was not enough.

It was also a bad day for Sao Paulo, who slipped to third on Saturday thanks to Flamengo's win and could not go back into second on Sunday as it slipped to a 2-0 home defeat against Vasco da Gama.

Eder Luis opened the scoring seven minutes after the break and Felipe made the points safe in stoppage time.

Fluminense strolled to a 4-0 win over 10-man Ceara.

Flu was 1-0 up through Fred when Heleno was dismissed on the stroke of half-time, and the host added to its tally through Souza, Rafael Sobis and Rafael Moura.

Marcos Aurelio scored twice as Coritiba won 3-1 at America MG.

Bill scored the other for the visitor, while Kempes pulled one back briefly to make it 2-1.

Struggling Santos lost again, slipping to a 3-2 defeat at Atletico Paranaense.

It was 2-0 down inside 10 minutes through Cleber Santana and Manoel before Neymar pulled one back.

Borges evened things up just after the hour mark but Marcinho handed his side the points with a goal in stoppage time.

Reinaldo, Avine and Jones scored for Bahia in a 3-1 win over Figueirense, for whom Wellington netted, while Internacional and Atletico Goianiense drew 0-0.

Thiago Neves opened the scoring in the 27th minute and Ronaldinho continued his good form by bagging the second in the 72nd minute, lifting his side above Sao Paulo, who did not play.

Palmeiras held off Atletico Mineiro to claim a 3-2 home win.

Marcos Assuncao put the host ahead in the 14th minute, but Magno Alves levelled two minutes later.

Luan and Patrik gave Palmeiras a two-goal cushion in the second half, but Wesley made it an uncomfortable final 10 minutes when he pulled one back.

In the day's other game, Sebastian Abreu scored the only goal as Botafogo won 1-0 at Cruzeiro.

Bahia was ahead in the fourth minute thanks to Reinaldo's strike, and that looked like being the winner until a hectic last minute which saw Elton score despite Marcio Careca's red card.

Marcelo Nicacio scored twice in the last eight minutes as Ceara came from a goal down to beat bottom side Atletico Paranaense 2-1.

The visitor led through Madson's 15th-minute effort until Nicacio's late intervention.

Flamengo found itself three goals down inside 25 minutes thanks to a double from Borges and one from Neymar, but Ronaldinho struck three minutes later and Flamengo drew level two minutes before half-time thanks to further efforts from Thiago Neves and Deivid.

Neymar struck again five minutes after the restart, but Ronaldinho levelled after 67 minutes then completed his hat-trick nine minutes from time to seal the points for his side.

That left Flamengo third in the table, one point behind second-placed Sao Paulo, which was also involved in a thriller, holding off a Coritiba comeback to win 4-3 in a match which finished 10-a-side.

Sau Paulo appeared to be cruising to victory as goals from Carlinhos Paraiba, Juan and Rhodolfo put it 3-0 up inside half an hour, and things got even tougher for the host when it had Davi dismissed just before the break.

Lucas struck to make it 4-0 nine minutes after the restart, but Rafinha struck back, before Bill scored after 74 and 86 minutes to make life difficult for the visitor. It could not find a leveller though, even when Denilson was sent off to even up the teams.

Mauricio Ramos scored the only goal in as Palmeiras lifted itself into fourth with a 1-0 win at Figueirense.

Maicosuel and German Herrera netted to give Botafogo a 2-1 win over Avai.

Ezequiel Miralles scored an equaliser in the 61st minute and was sent off 10 minutes later in Gremio-s 1-1 draw with America MG, for whom Willian Rocha scored in the 16th minute.

Andre De Souza scored the only goal in Atletico Mineiro's 1-0 win over Fluminense, while Felipe netted twice to lead Atletico Goianiense to a 2-0 victory over Cruzeiro.

Thiago scored the opening goal four minutes before half-time and then wrapped up the victory with a second goal in the 74th minute.

Watch highlights of the match between Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

However, it was not all smiles for the European champion, as youngster Jonathan Soriano was carried off injured midway through the second half.

Internacional claimed third place with another penalty shoot-out victory over AC Milan after the game finished 2-2 in normal time.

Milan had twice led through Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Alexandre Pato, but Leandro Damiao and substitute Andres D'Alessandro both grabbed equalisers.

Milan then suffered in the shoot-out, missing all four of its kicks to lose it 2-0.

Highlights: Barcelona v Internacional

Highlights: Bayern Munich v AC Milan

An 86th-minute goal from Leandro Damiao denied Barca victory in normal time as the match was levelled at 2-2.

Barca had twice led in the game, having gone ahead through Thiago's strike in the 14th minute, moments before Ibrahim Afellay struck a post.

Right-back Nei levelled for Internacional in the 55th minute but it was level for only seven minutes before Jonathan Dos Santos put Barca back in front after being picked out by Carlos Carmona.

With time ticking down, Damiao turned the ball in from a corner to force penalty kicks.

Misses from Damiao and Ze Mario proved costly for the Brazilian side as Armando got the winner.

The second game of the day also went to penalties, with Bayern Munich eventually topping AC Milan 5-3 after a 1-1 draw in normal time.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic had put Milan in front just four minutes in after breaking through the Bayern defence, but the tournaments host levelled 10 minutes before the break as Toni Kroos fired home from Rafinha's cross.

The first seven penalties of the shoot-out were converted but after Alberto Paloschi missed for Milan, Bastian Schweinsteiger scored to settle it.

The gifted 19-year-old, fresh from winning the Copa Libertadores with Santos, has been linked for months to a move to Real Madrid or Chelsea but Ribeiro told sports daily AS that the starlet would stay at the club.

"That is my intention, my goal. I have spoken a lot with his father. And we are going to restart those talks now. It would not make any sense for him to leave now," he added.

Ribeiro said he has told Real president Florentino Perez that Neymar is 'indispensable for us for at least another six months. And the desire of the player has yet to be defined'.

Chelsea had an initial approach for the 19-year-old turned down last year.

Neymar's current deal with Santos is worth almost US$2 million ($1.85 million) a season through to 2015.

Wallyson scored the only goal 10 minutes into the second half and the visitor held on even after Gil was sent off 18 minutes from time. Despite the loss, Corinthians is still six points clear of Sao Paulo with 11 games gone.

Diego Souza scored twice - including a last-minute winner - as Vasco da Gama moved up to fourth with a 2-1 victory at Atletico Mineiro.

The 26-year-old opened the scoring after 17 minutes but Magno Alves levelled five minutes before the break.

Atletico had Leonardo Silva sent off with a minute to go and the 10 men could not hold on as Diego Souza struck to condemn the home side to a sixth defeat in 11 games.

Bahia and Coritiba drew 0-0 - both sides having a man dismissed, Coritiba's Leandro Donizete after 67 minutes and Bahia's Jobson 20 minutes later, while Marquinho grabbed the only goal after 74 minutes as Fluminense beat Palmeiras 1-0.

Sao Paulo was twice pegged back as it drew 2-2 with lowly Atletico Goianiense while Flamengo was frustrated by Ceara 1-1.

Rhodolfo (seven) and Rivaldo (53) had twice sent Sao Paulo ahead but Atletico, who sit fourth from bottom, drew level on each occasion through Dos Santos (44) and Anselmo (68).

Flamengo also let a lead slip after Renato's 32nd-minute opener was cancelled out by Ceara's Felipe Azevedo 10 minutes from the end.

The results mean Sao Paulio is six points adrift of Corinthians with Flamengo a point further back, with both sides having played a game more.

Bottom club Atletico Paranaense upset Botafogo 2-1 to clim its first win of the season.

Santiago Garcia scored in each half and while Alex pulled a goal back late on, Botafogo's fate was sealed with the dismissal of Marcelo Mattos in injury time.

America MC and Figueirense played out a goalless draw in the only other game.

The host, which has just one win in 11 games this season, took a shock lead on the stroke of half-time through striker William.

Avai maintained the advantage until the 65th minute before a quick-fire Inter double snatched away the lead.

Andrezinho levelled before Brazil international Leandro Damiao fired the visitor ahead on 69 minutes.

Andres D'Alessandro then added a third in injury-time to move Inter up to fifth in the Campeonato table.

The Brazilian league leader pulled out of its big-money move for Argentina striker Tevez earlier in the day but goals from Liedson and Paulinho in each half helped pushed the issue aside.

Corinthians has now won nine of its opening 10 games to be seven points clear of Sao Paulo.

Third-placed Flamengo played out a goalless draw at Palmeiras to remain a point ahead of its rival, while Gremio's trip to Figueirense also failed to produce a goal.

Tevez has seen a proposed move to Corinthians fall through, with City claiming the Brazilian club had failed to provide the required bank guarantees on the £40 million ($60.28 million) fee.

Joorabchian denied that guarantees were the issue, claiming there were still sticking points over other aspects of the deal, but said that Tevez would remain calm while he waits for his future to be resolved.

The collapse of the Corinthians deal once again makes it a strong possibility that Tevez is forced to remain with City, due to a shortage of suitors who can afford the transfer fee and wages.

But Joorabchian said that, while his client was keen to move, he would not cause his current club problems.

"I think Carlos is a very calm person," Joorabchian told Sky Sports News.

"He's neither disappointed nor happy. He's very calm. We waited to see how the deal would be structured and he tried to keep out of it in terms of insisting on anything.

"Now he'll go on holiday after the Copa America and see what happens.

"There was a concrete offer on the table, and it was very close to being negotiated and agreed, but unfortunately it didn't go through. There's not really any speculation from our standpoint (on what happens next).

"He's still a City player and he will respect that. We will keep it like that until there's something else concrete on the table."

Since Corinthians announced in the early hours of the morning that the deal was off, City has indicated it was due to the lack of a bank guarantee, with concerns over how the Brazilian club would fund a deal worth four times its previous transfer record.

Joorabchian dismissed that notion, claiming FIFA rules provided enough security for City.

"It had nothing to do with proof of funds," he said.

"Obviously there will be active people at City that might try to put some sort of spin on it, but I don't think the top management really believe it. They are both FIFA clubs, both FIFA members, and it would be almost impossible for Corinthians not to pay.

"They are the largest club in Brazil. There would not be any issue with it. It is almost like Barcelona, Real Madrid or Manchester United not paying. They are the largest club in South America and with that kind of revenue, I don't think that would be an issue.

"I do know from speaking to Corinthians that City did ask for a bank guarantee and Corinthians said that would be not be a problem if City would want it.

"But from Corinthians' point of view, there was no point in doing so until the offer was agreed, and what kind of offer did they want to agree?"

With the Brazilian transfer window set to close, Joorabchian said the deal was now dead without hope of resurrection, but he believes a move could still materialise for Tevez this northern summer.

"I do think they were very close, and if there were three or four days left in the market, it would have been completed.

"City clearly have an intention of selling Carlos, but now it is going to be a little more complicated.

"It's all speculation at the moment. The market has only been open for two weeks. There are six weeks left. Anything might happen yet."

City appears keen to sign Tevez's Argentina team-mate Sergio Aguero regardless of the collapse of the deal, but Joorabchian struck down a suggestion that another ambitious signing would make Tevez change his mind about staying with City.

"Carlos' future has got nothing to do with other players," he said.

"He is an individual who bases himself around his own happiness and I don't think it will be anything to do with anyone joining that changes Carlos' mind."

The 24-year-old was briefly City's record signing when he joined from CSKA Moscow in 2008 for a fee of around £18 million ($27.01 million), although he was swiftly overtaken in that regard by his countryman Robinho later the same northern summer.

However, despite the high expectations, Jo never adapted to life in the Premier League, and scored only six goals in 41 appearances for City.

Jo, capped three times by Brazil, also had spells on loan at Everton and Galatasaray, but could not recapture the form that had made him such an exciting prospect in Russia.

The 23-year-old, signed in August 2006, struggled to hold down a regular place in Arsene Wenger's side last season.

The Brazil midfielder is looking forward to getting back into action.

He said: "I will be playing in Brazil next season as I felt that this is a good opportunity for me to play regular first-team football.

"I move away with sadness because I have so many friends at Arsenal and everyone has always been so supportive towards me.

"I'm now focused on doing well in Brazil next season, but will always be looking out for the Arsenal results. It is a great club with many great players, a good team spirit and a top-class manager. I wish you well for next season."

The under-20 international could stay with Santos until December, media reported, adding that it was the second biggest transfer in Portugal after Porto signed Givanildo Vieira de Souza, known as 'Hulk', for 19 million euros ($25.17 million) in 2008.