Elano scored his fifth goal in three matches as Santos defeated Sao Paulo 2-0 to stay atop the Sao Paulo state championship Sunday.
In Rio de Janeiro, Flamengo - still without Ronaldinho - beat Vasco 2-1 for the rival's fourth straight loss to begin the season.
Elano, who represented Brazil at the 2010 World Cup, opened the scoring at the Barueri Arena with a 10th-minute header, completing a cross from midfielder Robson.
Back with Santos after six seasons in European football, Elano scored twice in the team's 3-3 draw with Sao Caetano on Wednesday and had another two goals in the 4-2 victory over Prudente last Sunday. He is one of the tournament's leading scorers.
Elano also set up Santos' second goal Sunday, firing a long-range right-footer that Sao Paulo goalkeeper Rogerio Ceni couldn't hold on to it, leaving the ball for an easy goal by striker Maikon Leite in the 74th.
The victory kept defending champion Santos ahead in the Sao Paulo tournament with 13 points from five matches, along with Luiz Felipe Scolari's Palmeiras. Sao Paulo, still without recently signed midfielder Rivaldo, has lost twice already and dropped to fifth in the 20-team standings.
Palmeiras beat Portuguesa 2-0 with goals by right back Cicinho and striker Kleber, winning its fourth in a row. The eight-time Brazilian champion, still without injured Chile midfielder Jorge Valdivia, hadn't won four consecutive matches since 2009.
Corinthians drew newcomer Sao Bernardo 2-2 in Sao Bernardo do Campo, extending its winless streak to four matches. It played with second stringers to rest the regular starters ahead of Wednesday's match against Colombia's Deportes Tolima in the preliminary round of the Copa Libertadores. The teams drew the first leg 0-0 in Sao Paulo last week.
One of Corinthians' goals was scored by Peruvian midfielder Luis Ramirez, who was making his debut with the Brazilian club.
Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, an avid Corinthians fan who left office last December, was on hand to watch the match in his hometown.
On Saturday, Americana got past Noroeste 5-1 in Bauru, winning for the fourth time in five matches and jumping to third place in the standings.
In Rio, Flamengo won its fourth in a row to add to the struggles of rival Vasco.
Former Fenerbahce striker Deivid opened the scoring at Engenhao stadium with a goal from inside the area in the 22nd, and recently acquired playmaker Thiago Neves increased the lead in a breakaway in the 44th. Vasco's lone goal came with midfielder Romulo after a corner in the 75th.
Ronaldinho, signed from AC Milan, is set to make his debut with Flamengo on Wednesday against Nova Iguacu.
Vasco was coming off three straight losses to start the season and has no chance of advancing to the next round of the Guanabara Cup, the first stage of the Rio de Janeiro championship.
The O Globo newspaper reported Sunday that the club has reached a deal to sign former Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz, who has not coached since being fired by Portugal last year following poor results in qualifiers for the 2012 European Championship.
The club did not confirm the report, and other local media said late Sunday that the Portuguese coach had rejected Vasco's offer.
Brazilian champion Fluminense defeated Cabofriense 4-2 in Macae behind a pair of goals by striker Fred, securing its fourth straight victory. The match marked the return of Argentine playmaker Dario Conca, who had been recovering from a left knee surgery.
Botafogo, led by former South Africa coach Joel Santana, also won four in a row to start the season. It defeated Olaria 3-1 with the help of Uruguay striker Sebastian "El Loco" Abreu, who scored twice to take his tally to four goals.
The winner of the Guanabara Cup will play for the state title against the Rio Cup champion later in the tournament.
The Brazilian football season does not follow the European calendar and starts in the beginning of the year. Regional championships in the 26 states take place in the first few months, with the Brazilian league running from May until December.
