Gremio facing tough test against Flamengo

Brazilian league leaders Gremio face a tough test at Flamengo on Thursday as they aim to cement their place at the top of the table.

The Porto Alegre side enjoy a five-point lead over Cruzeiro in the Campeonato Brasileiro after 21 games while Flamengo, who led the championship for 13 rounds, have now slipped to seventh.

Gremio are currently enjoying a 12-match unbeaten streak but coach Celso Roth insists he does not pay attention to statistics.

"I don't consider these figures," he said. "In football, we must keep winning.

"The run is the result of a good team job and humility. We know we must always respect our rivals."

His Flamengo counterpart Caio Junior is in no doubt that this is the last chance his side have to reduce the 12-point deficit to the leaders and maintain any hope of winning the title.

"This is like the championship match," he said. "We must play it as the last one, as if the tournament finishes on Thursday."

Cruzeiro have collected 39 points so far in the tournament and, while they will be hoping Flamengo beat Gremio, first they have a tricky tie of their own as they take on fourth-placed Botafogo on Wednesday.

Cruzeiro coach Adilson Batista will be without forward Romulo (injured) and suspended trio Giovanni Espinoza, Fabricio and Charles, but he is confident his squad has enough strength in depth.

"They are important players," he said. "But we have already played some matches without our starting midfielders.

"It's a long, even, well-played championship, and these are the difficulties you come up against quite often.

"We'll find a way to play good football and beat Botafogo."

Third-placed Palmeiras, who lie seven points below Gremio, visit Internacional at the Beira-Rio the same day, while reigning two-time champions Sao Paulo - fifth in the table - meet Atletico Paranaense, and sixth-placed Vitoria challenge Sport.

Fluminense travel to Nautico and Santos visit Ipatinga in Wednesday's other ties in two relegation six-pointers as all four sides are currently in the drop zone.

Elsewhere, Coritiba challenge Figueirense.

Thursday sees giants Vasco da Gama entertain Portuguesa, with both sides hovering very close to the relegation zone, while Atletico Mineiro play Goias.