Palmeiras gets second chance to clinch Brazilian-league title

Palmeiras will have a second opportunity to clinch its 10th Brazilian-league title when the Sao Paulo club takes on Vasco da Gama on Sunday.

The Verdao can wrap up the championship with a victory on the road on Sunday at Sao Januario Stadium and will even secure the crown with a draw or loss if second-placed Flamengo does not defeat Cruzeiro that same afternoon.

Fifteenth-placed Vasco de Gama has a lot to play for as well though in Matchday 37, since it is just four points clear of the four-team relegation zone with two games remaining in the season.

Palmeiras (74 points) could have clinched the Brasileirao title in Matchday 36 action on Wednesday with its 4-0 victory over America Mineiro, but Flamengo (69 points) defeated Gremio that same day to keep the title chase going for at least one more round.

Even so, the Rio de Janeiro club’s slim hopes depend on it defeating eighth-placed Cruzeiro on the road and seventh-placed Atletico Paranaense at home in its final two games and on Palmeiras losing both on the road against Vasco and at home against 19th-placed Vitoria.

Such a stunning collapse is highly improbable considering the Sao Paulo team has gone unbeaten (14 wins and six draws) since Luiz Felipe Scolari took over as head coach in late July.

At the other end of the standings, last-placed Parana (22 points) is already assured of relegation to the second division.

But the three other teams that will drop out of the Brasileirao have not yet been determined.