Fluminense defeats São Paulo 2-1, consolidates third place in Brasileirão

Fluminense defeated São Paulo 2-1 on Saturday at the Maracanã stadium in Rio de Janeiro during the 16th round of the Brasileirão, maintaining the club's position in the title race.

John Kennedy and Canobbio scored for Fluminense, while Dória replied for São Paulo. The victory brought Fluminense to 30 points, consolidating the team in third place in the standings. São Paulo remained in fourth with 24 points.

The match took place on the same evening as the official presentation of Fluminense's new signing, striker Hulk. The player was introduced to supporters before kickoff with a light and smoke show. Hulk was announced on May 5 after reaching a termination agreement with Atlético-MG and signed a contract through the end of 2027. He will wear the number 7 shirt, which will remain with Soteldo until the Copa do Mundo. However, Hulk is only eligible to play from July 20 onwards.

Fluminense's performance drew praise from observers, with the team described as superior to São Paulo throughout the match despite the narrow margin of victory. The win came after two previous defeats, providing the team with renewed confidence ahead of upcoming fixtures.

Fluminense faces Bolívar of Bolivia on Tuesday, May 19, at 7 p.m. in a Copa Libertadores match where the club needs a victory to avoid the risk of early elimination from the competition.

São Paulo's loss worsened the club's recent struggles. The team now risks dropping out of the top five positions in the Brasileirão standings.