Internacional went back to the top of the Campeonato Brasileiro as a hat-trick by Luis Bolanos helped them defeat Coritiba 3-0.

The Ecuador midfielder almost single-handedly helped end a six-game winless streak, but needed 63 minutes to open the scoring before netting all three of his goals in a ten-minute spell. Marcelinho Paraiba came close to reducing the deficit but his long shot cannoned back off the crossbar.

"I thank Inter for the opportunity they gave me," said Bolanos, who failed to settle down at his former club Santos. "I totally deserve it after the all I have gone through in the last months."

Internacional matches Atletico Mineiro at the top on 17 points, after the Minas Gerais side lost 4-2 at Gremio on Saturday. Vitoria are a point behind the leading duo after they hit Santo Andre 4-1, with a brace by Roger.

The 19-year-old Elkeson, in his first start for Vitoria, put his side ahead four minutes into the second half, before Uellinton headed the ball into the net thirty minutes later following a Leandro Domingues free-kick. Five minutes later, Roger widened the lead and, after Moraes had reduced the gap with a strike for Santo Andre, Roger netted again to make it 4-1.

Elsewhere Rio de Janeiro's foremost derby between Fluminense and Flamengo ended 0-0 at the Maracana. Strikers Fred (Fluminense) and Adriano (Flamengo) played the entire match but failed to impress the 44,500 supporters in the scoreless game.

Adriano apologised for missing chances to give Flamengo the win, saying: "Both teams had opportunities to score, but failed. It happens sometimes. We should not say the result is bad for us. The team is fine, we're able to keep good rhythm and now it is time to score."

In Sao Paulo, fifth-placed Palmeiras and Santos played out a 1-1 draw, with Obina putting the hosts ahead in the 32nd minute after Santos keeper Douglas failed to save a Cleiton Xavier shot. But with only nine minutes to go Santos equalised through Robson.

Finally, Sport moved off the bottom of the table after they beat ten-man Gremio 3-1 at the Ilha do Retiro. Fabiano, Elder Granja and Fumagalli scored for Emerson Leao's side, while Jonas levelled the scores momentarily before he was shown red.