Basement club Fortaleza will be looking to boost their hopes of survival when they welcome Brasileiro Serie A leaders Palmeiras to the Castelao on Sunday.
The hosts are unbeaten in each of their last five games across all competitions, while the visitors have lost only one of their most recent 13 matches on the road.
Match preview
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Fortaleza saw their maiden Copa Libertadores journey come to an end on Friday, as they were beaten 3-0 away against Argentine side Estudiantes in the second leg of their last-16 tie, losing 4-1 on aggregate.
After Manuel Castro opened the scoring for Estudiantes in the ninth minute, the dismissal of Fortaleza's star man Yago Pikachu swung the game in favour of the hosts, who went on the score two more goals in the second half.
Juan Pablo Vojvoda's side, who have failed to win any of their last four matches across all competitions, will now turn their attention back to the Brasileiro Serie A where they currently sit at the foot of the table, seven points adrift of safety.
The Lion of the Pici will face a daunting clash against Palmeiras, but their recent record against the Brazilian giants bodes well for them heading into Sunday's fixture.
Fortaleza have won three of their last four league games against the Verdao, and did the double against them last season, winning 3-2 on the road in August last year before securing a slender 1-0 home victory three months later.
Vojvoda's side have only accumulated seven points from their eight home fixtures this season, the joint-second lowest total in the division, but five of those points have been claimed in their last three home fixtures, drawing against Goias and Athletico Paranaense before beating America Mineiro 1-0.
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Ten-time Brasileiro Serie A winners Palmeiras were unable to extend their 13-game unbeaten league run as they suffered a 2-0 home defeat against Athletico Paranaense last weekend.
Strikes either side of half time from Vitor Roque and Vitor Bueno condemned the hosts – who failed to score despite boasting 35 shots on goal – to just their second league defeat of the campaign.
After drawing 2-2 away at Avai in their previous Brasileiro Serie A game, Abel Ferreira's men have now dropped five points in their last two league matches and have seen their gap at the summit cut to just two points by Paranaense in second and Atletico Mineiro in third.
Palmeiras have since managed to put their domestic blip behind them as they returned to winning ways in comfortable fashion on Wednesday, beating Cerro Porteno 5-0 at home in the second leg of their Copa Liberatores last-16 tie, winning 8-0 on aggregate.
The Verdao head into Sunday's clash with Fortaleza as the only top-flight side who remain unbeaten away from home this season, winning four and drawing three of their seven league matches on the road.
Ferreira's side now have three successive league games against teams currently in the bottom half of the table, so they should be confident of claiming maximum points and building another strong run of form in the coming weeks.
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Team News
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Fortaleza will be without defender Tinga for the rest of this month due to a ligament injury, while forward Robson remains sidelined with a knee problem.
Pikachu will be available to start on the right side of midfield despite his red card in the Copa Libertadores, while Juninho Capixaba is set to retain his place on the opposite flank.
Ronald, Romarinho, Lucas Crispim and Matheus Jussa will all be hoping to return to the first XI after beginning on the substitutes' bench on Friday.
As for Palmeiras, midfielder Gabriel Menino is suspended following his dismissal in the closing stages of the defeat to Paranaense, while teenage forward Gabriel Veron remains sidelined with a foot injury.
The absence of Menino will likely see Ze Rafael return to the first XI and partner Arsenal target Danilo in centre-midfield.
Centre-back Gustavo Gomez, who has scored six goals in 11 league games this term, found the net again in their Copa Liberatores win in midweek, and the Paraguayan is set to start again at the heart of the defence alongside Murilo.
Rony and Gustavo Scarpa, who have contributed to 15 goals between them this season, could return to the starting lineup at the expense of Rafael Navarro and Wesley.
Fortaleza possible starting lineup:
Boeck, Ceballos, Benevenuto, Titi; Pikachu, Jussa, Crispim, Capixaba; Lima, Romero, Moises
Palmeiras possible starting lineup:
Weverton; Rocha, Murilo, Gomez, Piquerez; Menino, Rafael; Dudu, Veiga, Scarpa; Rony
We say: Fortaleza 1-3 Palmeiras
Table toppers Palmeiras will understandably be the strong favourites to come out on top against the league's lowest-ranked side Fortaleza, but the latter have caused numerous problems in recent meetings and will be hoping to cause another upset this weekend.
Nevertheless, the visitors should have plenty of firepower to outscore their opponents and secure maximum points.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Oliver Thomas
