Two Brasileiro teams seeking to return to winning ways do battle at the Maracana on Thursday night as Fluminense play host to Corinthians.
While the home side are hoping to avoid suffering a third successive defeat, the visitors have failed to win any of their last four matches in all competitions.
Match preview
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After securing their place in the Copa Libertadores final with a 4-3 aggregate win over Internacional, Fluminense were beaten 2-0 at home to Botafogo in their most recent Brasileiro match just under two weeks ago, a result that ended the club's 16-game unbeaten home run in the top flight.
Tricolor Flu Fluzao were boasting a 15-game unbeaten home run in the Brasileiro and had won each of their last five home league matches prior to the visit of Botafogo, but two goals in two first-half minutes from Tiquinho Soares and Junior Santos ultimately brought their impressive run to an end.
Fluminense have now lost three of their last four league matches, including their last two without scoring, and they have subsequently slipped down to seventh in the table, three points behind fourth-placed Palmeiras.
After managing the Brazil national team during the international break, Fernando Diniz will resume his coaching duties with Fluminense, who have experienced mixed fortunes in previous meetings with Corinthians during his tenure, winning and losing two of their last five encounters.
With a challenging fixture against second-placed Bragantino on the horizon, Fluminense can ill-afford to drop points on Thursday if they wish to remain in touch with the top four.
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While Fluminense are looking towards the top end of the table, Corinthians are glancing over their shoulders at a possible relegation dogfight following a run of just two win in their last 10 Brasileiro matches; only two defeats and six draws have also been recorded during this period, though.
After being knocked out at the semi-final stage of the Copa Sudamericana to fellow Brazilian side Fortaleza 3-1 on aggregate, Corinthians managed to rescue a 1-1 draw at home with Flamengo in their most recent league match.
Timao were seemingly on course to suffer their third straight defeat in all tournaments until an own goal from Fabio Santos restore parity for the hosts 11 minutes from time, and they eventually held on for their 10th league draw of the campaign; only Bragantino and Cruzeiro have drawn as many this term.
Nearly a year on from finishing fourth in the Brasileiro table, Mano Menezes's side find themselves languishing in 16th place this season, just four points above the relegation zone with 12 games remaining, seven of which are against teams currently sitting in the bottom half.
Corinthians have only won two of their 13 top-flight away matches this season, but they can head to the Maracana with an element of optimism after beating Fluminense by a 2-0 scoreline in their last meeting in May.
Team News
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Fluminense centre-back David Braz is ruled out with a knee injury and will be joined in the treatment room by long-term absentees Gustavo Apis and Jorge who are nursing ACL problems.
Marlon was forced off in the first half of the defeat to Botafogo with an unspecified problem and is a doubt for Thursday, so Felipe Andrade could deputise in central defence alongside Nino if the former is not deemed fit to feature.
Fluminense have heavily relied on the exceptional form of German Cano in front of goal this season, with the 35-year-old Argentine striker having already netted 36 times in 51 games across all competitions, and he is expected to lead the line once again on Thursday.
As for Corinthians, former Barcelona midfielder Paulinho is still recovering from a long-term knee injury, while teenage forward Giovane is nursing a thigh problem.
Bruno Mendez will be assessed ahead of kickoff after coming off in the first half of the draw with Flamengo, and his potential absence would likely see Fagner handed a start at right-back.
Now that Roger Guedes has moved on to Qatari club Al-Rayyan, 18-year-old Wesley Gassova will be hoping to cement his place on the left flank, joining Matias Rojas and Yuri Alberto in attack.
Fluminense possible starting lineup:
Fabio; Xavier, Nino, Andrade, Marcelo; Andre; Arias, Ganso, Keno; Cano, Kennedy
Corinthians possible starting lineup:
Cassio; Fagner, Gil, Verissimo, Santos; Moscardo; Maycon, Rojas, Augusto, Gassova; Alberto
We say: Fluminense 2-2 Corinthians
An entertaining contest could be in store between two teams who are desperate to turn their fortunes around and build a strong run of form heading into the closing stages of the campaign.
Both sides have the potential to cause problems in the final third, but with little to separate them, a score draw could be on the cards in Rio de Janeiro.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Oliver Thomas
