Santos held at Corinthians as title hopes slip away

Soccer Football - Brasileiro Championship - Corinthians v Santos - Arena Corinthians, Sao Paulo, Brazil - October 26, 2019 Santos' Marinho reacts REUTERS/Rahel Patrasso

SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Santos’ hopes of catching Flamengo at the top of the Brazilian league suffered another blow on Saturday when they could only draw 0-0 at rivals Corinthians.

Neither side looked capable of breaking the deadlock in a tense match that left Santos in third place with 52 points from 28 games, 12 adrift of Flamengo and two behind Palmeiras, both of whom have a game in hand.

Santos, who led the table earlier this season, have won one of their last four games and seem to be running out of steam.

Soccer Football - Brasileiro Championship - Corinthians v Santos - Arena Corinthians, Sao Paulo, Brazil - October 26, 2019 Santos' Marinho after sustaining an injury REUTERS/Rahel Patrasso

Saturday's result was just as disappointing for Corinthians, who slumped to a sixth match in a row without a victory.

The point leaves them in fifth place in Serie A with 45 points, a point behind city rivals Sao Paulo.

Soccer Football - Brasileiro Championship - Corinthians v Santos - Arena Corinthians, Sao Paulo, Brazil - October 26, 2019 Santos' Marinho in action with Corinthians' Danilo Avelar REUTERS/Rahel Patrasso

(Reporting by Andrew Downie; Editing by Ken Ferris)