The hosts were awarded a penalty after 18 minutes when Emerson was bundled over inside the area. Chicão duly stepped up to fire them into the lead with a powerful spot-kick.
Gremio equalised five minutes before the break. Corinthians’ Edenilson was booked for a foul on Andre Lima, and from the resulting free-kick Douglas hit an unstoppable effort to make it 1-1 at half-time.
Corinthians went back in front on 65′, when Paulinho beat two men and fired home from 12 yards. Shortly after it was 3-1, as Ramon smashed in from close range after poor defending from the visitors.
Lima headed in from all of a yard after a corner had been flicked on into his path to reduce the deficit on 70′, and although Liedson and Edenilson were sent off for the hosts, they managed to hold on to remain in top spot in the Brasileirão.
Click here to see the 2011 Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A table.
