It was also a bad day for Brazilian champions Fluminense, crowned with three matches to spare three weeks ago but beaten 2-1 by Vasco da Gama in a match played mainly by their reserves in a nearly empty Engenhao in Rio.
Sport became the fourth and last team relegated after they lost 1-0 away to Nautico in the Recife derby, joining already condemned Palmeiras, Goianiense and Figueirense.
Gremio also had an unhappy farewell to their Olimpico stadium, to be demolished after 58 years' service, in a poor 0-0 draw with Internacional in the Porto Alegre derby.
The result allowed Atletico Mineiro to move above them into second place after a 3-2 win over Cruzeiro in the Belo Horizonte derby, putting them directly into the group stage of next year's South American Libertadores Cup.
The Olimpico's goodbye party was marred by coach Vardelei Luxemburgo being sent to the stands for entering the field of play during an argument with the referee and having to be removed by police.
Inter's caretaker coach Osmar Loss was also involved in a scuffle and shoved by Gremio defender Saimon, who earned a red card, in added time when a flare landed close to an Inter official.
