SAO PAULO - Cruzeiro defeated Santos 1-0 on Sunday to move a step closer to clinching its second consecutive Brazilian league title.

Brazil midfielder Ricardo Goulart scored the winner in the 50th minute to give the defending champion a four-point advantage in the standings over second-place Sao Paulo, which beat rival Palmeiras 2-0.

Goulart scored with a left-foot shot from inside the area just after halftime, handing Santos its third-straight loss at its Vila Belmiro Stadium and keeping the team winless in seven matches. Santos was eliminated by Cruzeiro in the Brazilian Cup semifinals last week.

Cruzeiro's third consecutive league win moves the three-time national champion to 70 points with four games left to play. Sao Paulo has one less game remaining.

Internacional moved up to third following a 1-0 win over Goias courtesy of defender Paulao's bicycle kick. Luiz Felipe Scolari's Gremio moved into fourth place after defeating last-place Criciuma 3-0 on Saturday. Corinthians beat Bahia 2-1 in Salvador on Sunday to remain in fifth place.

Internacional, Gremio and Corinthians are all 10 points behind Cruzeiro. Sixth-place Atletico Mineiro missed a chance to join them after a 1-1 draw against Figueirense at Belo Horizonte.

At the Morumbi Stadium, former Brazil striker Luis Fabiano opened the scoring for Sao Paulo in the 22nd and defender Rafael Toloi doubled the lead in the 79th. Palmeiras, which is only three points off the relegation zone, had to do without playmaker Jorge Valdivia due to his duties with the Chile national squad.

Internacional was headed for a scoreless draw against Goias at its Beira-Rio Stadium when Paulao scored his remarkable bicycle kick goal in the 79th.

In Criciuma, Argentine striker Hernan Barcos scored one of the goals for Gremio, which has won three in a row — and four in five matches. Criciuma has lost six consecutive matches.

Corinthians midfielder Renato Augusto scored with an 84th-minute header to give his team a 2-1 win over next-to-last Bahia at the Arena Fonte Nova. Bahia had equalized with Kieza in the 70th after young striker Malcom gave Corinthians the lead in the 25th. Bahia has lost four in a row.

The top four teams in the 20-team standings are guaranteed spots in the Copa Libertadores next year, while the bottom four are relegated.

Botafogo lost 1-0 to rival Fluminense on Saturday at the Maracana Stadium to remain in relegation zone, while Flamengo beat Coritiba 3-2 in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday with one of the goals scored by Argentine midfielder Lucas Mugni.

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