Philippe Coutinho scored a second-half double and Everton added a sublime third as Brazil recovered from a sloppy start to beat Bolivia 3-0 in their Copa America opener on Friday.
Both sides were poor in the opening 45 minutes but the game briefly came alive early in the second half when Coutinho slotted home a VAR-assisted penalty.
Coutinho bagged a second with a close-range header three minutes later before Everton rifled home a third from outside the box with five minutes left.
“In the end, with a bit of patience, we opened things up, we had more of the ball and we created plays,” captain Daniel Alves said. “We deserved a big victory.”
Brazil may have got the win they wanted in their Copa America opener but the aftermath was as much about the lack of atmosphere as the lacklustre display.
The 46,342 fans who turned out to see the match at Sao Paulo’s Morumbi stadium were not impressed and the team were booed at half-time.
The entire game at the stadium, which was 70 per cent full, was notable for the lack of atmosphere.
Coach Tite admitted the players heard the boos and said it was not realistic to expect supporters to cheer a team that was not playing well.
“We felt it!” Tite said. “Young lads feel it. The coach feels it.
“Having been at big clubs, when you sometimes don’t produce, then don’t expect the fans to understand. They will boo.
“When you pass the ball along the back, from full back to central defender to goalkeeper, the first thing you here is BOOOOOOO!”
“We need to understand. If we get forward and create chances then they will applaud.”
Venezuela, meanwhile, began their Copa America quest with a nervous 0-0 draw against Peru on Saturday
It was a stop-start affair marked by two Peruvian goals chalked off after VAR reviews.
The result means both sides are tied in second place in Group A, behind host nation Brazil.
Copa America live stream – how to watch for free
Brazil vs Venezuela kicks off at 9.30pm local time, which will be 1.30am on Wednesday morning in the UK.
Live television coverage can be found on Premier Sports 1 throughout the UK and Ireland.
A subscription to the service costs £9.99 per month, which Sky and Virgin customers can add to their packages.
Live streaming is available at the same price via the Premier Sports app and through their online player.
However, there is a way to watch Brazil vs Venezuela for free.
Selected UK betting sites will be streaming coverage of the game at no cost via their platforms.