Weekend Results Apr 4-5, 2026
| COMPETITION | RESULT | NOTE |
|---|---|---|
| Brasileirao R10 | Bahia 1-2 Palmeiras | 5th straight — 25 pts |
| Brasileirao R10 | Corinthians 0-1 Inter | 9 without win — crisis |
| Brasileirao R10 | Sao Paulo 4-1 Cruzeiro | Vasco 1-2 Botafogo |
| Brasileirao R10 | Flamengo 3-1 Santos | Fla bounce back |
| Arg Apertura F13 | Independiente 1-0 Racing | Avalos 80′ — clasico |
| Arg Apertura F13 | Boca 1-0 Talleres (Thu) | Bareiro — 3rd, 20 pts |
| Arg Apertura F13 | Rosario Central 2-1 Atl Tuc | Veliz — 2nd Zona B |
| Libertadores MD1 | Wednesday Apr 8 | Groups begin |
01
Palmeiras Win at Bahia to Make It Five Straight and Pull Clear in Brasileirao
Football
Palmeiras continued their relentless march at the top of the Brasileirao with a gutsy 2-1 victory at Bahia’s Arena Fonte Nova — their fifth consecutive league win. Abel Ferreira’s side overcame a hostile Salvador crowd and a Bahia team third in the table. The rivalry between coaches Rogerio Ceni and Abel Ferreira added extra tension, and the Verdao’s winning goal left the home fans silent.
The victory lifts Palmeiras to 25 points from 10 rounds — potentially six or seven clear of the nearest challenger. Flamengo bounced back from their Bragantino humiliation with a 3-1 win over Santos. Sao Paulo demolished Cruzeiro 4-1 at the Morumbis to stay in touch, while Botafogo beat Vasco 2-1 in the cross-city derby. The title race is Palmeiras’ to lose.
In other Rodada 10 results, Atletico-MG beat Athletico-PR 2-1, Bragantino continued their revival with a 1-0 win at Mirassol, and Chapecoense drew 1-1 with Vitoria. Gremio were held 0-0 by bottom side Remo at the Arena — Carlos Vinicius, the league’s top scorer, unable to find the net against the division’s best defensive record in terms of tackles and interceptions per match.
02
Independiente End Clasico Drought With Late Avalos Winner Against Racing
Football
Independiente won the Avellaneda clasico for the first time since September 2023, Gabriel Avalos’s 80th-minute strike sealing a 1-0 victory at the Libertadores de America. The Apertura’s top scorer — now with eight goals — threw himself at Santiago Montiel’s low cross and diverted past Cambeses. Racing had the clearest first-half chance when Maravilla Martinez attempted to chip a penalty over the bar.
Earlier in Fecha 13, Boca beat Talleres 1-0 in Cordoba through Adam Bareiro’s goal, climbing to third in Zona A on 20 points. Rosario Central beat Atletico Tucuman 2-1 with Alejo Veliz scoring to consolidate second in Zona B on 21 points. Independiente climb to eighth in Zona A on 17 points — into the playoff places for the first time. Racing drop to sixth in Zona B on 18.
The Apertura has just four rounds remaining before the World Cup pause. Velez lead Zona A on 22, followed by Lanus (19) and Boca (20). In Zona B, River (22) and Rosario Central (21) set the pace. The playoff picture is taking shape ahead of the decisive final fortnight.
Corinthians Crisis Deepens as Dorival Faces Sack After Ninth Match Without Win
Football
Corinthians’ season is lurching towards crisis. A 0-1 home defeat to Internacional at the Neo Quimica Arena on Sunday — their ninth consecutive match without a win — has plunged coach Dorival Junior into the most precarious position of his tenure. Valentino Bernabei scored the only goal as the Colorado won in Sao Paulo for the second time this Brasileirao, while Corinthians slipped to 16th in the table on 10 points from 10 matches.
The timing could not be worse. Corinthians debut in the Copa Libertadores group stage on Thursday at Platense in Buenos Aires — their first continental appearance in three seasons. A managerial change on the eve of such a significant fixture would be chaotic, but president Osmar Stabile’s public support for Dorival is growing thinner with every defeat. Memphis Depay remains injured, further depleting the squad’s attacking options. The crowd’s frustration was audible throughout Sunday’s match.
Internacional’s victory, built on Paulo Pezzolano’s trademark defensive organisation and Bernabei’s quality on the left flank, lifts the Colorado to mid-table and provides momentum ahead of their own Libertadores opener. For Corinthians, the road back from this run of form looks long — and the clock is ticking.
04
Sao Paulo Demolish Cruzeiro 4-1 as Artur Jorge Bounce Fades Fast
Football
Saturday’s Brasileirao programme opened with Sao Paulo dismantling Cruzeiro 4-1 at the Morumbis — a result that emphatically ended any notion of Artur Jorge’s debut victory transforming the Raposa’s season. Roger Machado’s Tricolor were clinical from the start, with the defensive solidity that has characterised their campaign (best defence in the league alongside Flamengo) complemented by an unusually prolific attacking display.
In Sao Januario, Botafogo edged Vasco 2-1 in a tense Rio derby to give new interim coach Rodrigo Bellao a winning start as the Glorioso look to escape the bottom half under their latest management setup. Franclim Carvalho — hired as Artur Jorge’s successor — watched from the stands as the Portuguese waits for his work permit. The result continues Renato Gaucho’s Vasco honeymoon souring, with the Cruzmaltino now winless in two after their promising start under the veteran coach.
Coritiba drew 1-1 with Fluminense at the Couto Pereira on Saturday evening — a result that keeps Fernando Seabra’s Coxa in the top half but allows the Tricolor carioca to maintain their position in the title conversation. Fluminense, vice-leaders on 17 points before the round, showed the controlled possession game that has made them one of the most watchable sides in the division.
05
Copa Libertadores Group Stage Begins Wednesday: The Continent Awaits
Preview
Wednesday April 8 marks the start of the 2026 Copa Libertadores group stage — and the true beginning of South America’s continental calendar. Palmeiras open away at Junior Barranquilla in Colombia, Penarol host Atletico Mineiro in Montevideo, Flamengo launch their campaign, and Corinthians travel to Platense in Buenos Aires on Thursday in what could be Dorival Junior’s last match in charge if results don’t improve.
The Libertadores group stage runs through to late May, with six matchdays crammed into seven weeks alongside Brasileirao and Argentine Apertura fixtures. The schedule is punishing by design — CONMEBOL’s calendar compression, necessitated by the World Cup break from June 11, means clubs will play every three or four days for the next two months. Squad depth and tactical flexibility will determine who survives.
Copa Sudamericana groups also begin this week, with Racing Club’s clash against Botafogo among the standout fixtures. Nacional (Uruguay), Gremio, and Sao Paulo are also in continental action. For followers of Latin America sports, the next eight weeks represent the most intense stretch of the entire year — domestic leagues, continental cups, and World Cup squad selections all running in parallel.
06
Brasileirao Rodada 10 Full Roundup: Flamengo Rebound, Gremio Stall, Santos Sink
Football
Flamengo responded to Thursday’s 3-0 Bragantino humiliation with a 3-1 victory over Santos at the Maracana on Sunday — a result that steadies Leonardo Jardim’s ship but does little to close the gap on Palmeiras. The Rubro-Negro’s defence, which had been the league’s joint-best before the Bragantino collapse, looked far more composed against a Santos side that is sinking towards the relegation zone despite Neymar’s presence.
Atletico-MG continued their resurgence with a 2-1 home win over Athletico-PR at the Arena MRV — the Galo’s second consecutive victory after the 4-0 demolition of Chapecoense. Bragantino backed up their Flamengo scalp with a 1-0 win at Mirassol, suggesting their revival is genuine rather than a one-off. At the bottom, Chapecoense drew 1-1 with Vitoria in a relegation dogfight, and Gremio were held 0-0 by last-placed Remo at the Arena — a frustrating result that leaves Luiz Castro’s side in mid-table.
The Brasileirao table after 10 rounds: Palmeiras lead on 25 points, with Sao Paulo, Fluminense and Flamengo in a cluster between 17 and 19 points. Corinthians (16th, 10 pts), Santos (17th), Remo (20th) and Cruzeiro occupy the danger zone. The next round is Rodada 11 this coming weekend — and between now and then, every club with continental commitments faces the gruelling midweek Libertadores/Sudamericana schedule.
07
Argentine Apertura Fecha 13 Continues: River Host Belgrano in Sunday Headline
Preview
Fecha 13 of the Argentine Apertura continues on Sunday with three matches, headlined by River Plate hosting Belgrano at the Monumental. River lead Zona B on 22 points and face a Belgrano side that drew 0-0 with Talleres in the interzonal earlier in the round — a fixture with significant playoff implications for both clubs. Gimnasia face Huracan in La Plata, while Central Cordoba take on Newell’s in a battle near the bottom.
The Apertura standings after Saturday’s results paint a clear picture heading into the final stretch. In Zona A, Velez lead on 22 points, with Boca (20) and Lanus (19) in pursuit. Talleres (18) and Independiente (17, boosted by the clasico win) are fighting for the remaining playoff spots. In Zona B, River (22) and Rosario Central (21) are pulling away, with Racing (18) and Belgrano (17) completing the top four. Just four rounds remain before the World Cup pause — every point is now critical.
Monday’s programme wraps Fecha 13 with Argentinos vs Banfield and Instituto vs Defensa y Justicia. Copa Sudamericana debuts follow midweek: Racing travel to face Independiente Petrolero in Bolivia on Tuesday, and several Argentine clubs enter the continental fray for the first time this season. The LATAM football calendar is now fully loaded through to June.