Goals from Rafael Moura, Andres D'Alessandro, Fabricio and Alex inspired Internacional to a resounding 4-0 victory over basement club Flamengo at the Estadio Jose Pinheiro Borba on Sunday.
Abel Braga's men are up to fifth position with 19 points from 11 matches, six points adrift of reigning champions Cruzeiro, who edged Palmeiras 2-1.
But Internacional set out to put that result behind them and they made an ideal start thanks to Moura's 16th-minute opener, with the 31-year-old striker firing the ball into the net from inside the six-yard box.
The home side doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time when D'Alessandro converted a penalty after Flamengo defender Chicao was sent off for a rash challenge inside the area.
Internacional only had to wait 13 minutes into the second half for their third goal, with D'Alessandro picking out Fabricio at the back post before the defender volleyed the ball past goalkeeper Felipe.
Goulart made the breakthrough in the eighth minute - his seventh goal in as many games for Cruzeiro to make him the league's top scorer - and Manoel heaped more misery on Palmeiras just two minutes later with a goal of his own.
As for Gremio, Giuliano's fourth-minute effort was the difference as the visiting team downed 10-man Figueirense 1-0 on Saturday.
Elsewhere, Luan's 66th-minute equaliser earned Atletico Mineiro a 1-1 draw against Bahia after Titi had given the visiting side a first-half lead.
Botafogo were 1-0 winners over second-bottom Coritiba courtesy of Mario Bolatti's goal in the 12th minute.
Meanwhile, Goias and Sport Recife played out a goalless stalemate - only the pair's second draw in 12 previous league meetings.
