Palmeiras managed to beat Portuguesa 1-0 in the Paulista A1 to open up a ten point gap at the top of their section. The Sao Paulo side have only lost once in the state championship so far and secured a third clean sheet in four games into the bargain.
A strike just after half time through left back Juninho was enough to take the spoils at the Estadio Municipal in a low-key fixture against the side who were so controversially relegated from Serie A last term.
Despite boasting the attacking threat of Alan Kardec, who has been heavily backed to force his way into the Brazil World Cup reckoning, Palmeiras did little to suggest that their return to the top flight this term will strike fear into their opponents.
Palmeiras have won more Campeonato Brasileiro titles than any other side bar Santos, who also sit with eight league success.
