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Fortaleza
Brasileiro | Gameweek 7
Jun 2, 2024 at 10.30pm UK
Estadio Governador Placido Aderaldo Castelo
Athletico Paranaense

Fortaleza
1 - 0
Athletico PR

Kuscevic (45')
Augusto (42'), Martinez (43'), Pikachu (90+7')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Felipe (19'), Madson (47'), Christian (49'), Vitor (69')

Preview: Fortaleza vs. Athletico Paranaense - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Sunday's Brasileiro clash between Fortaleza and Athletico Paranaense, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

The final match of gameweek seven in Brasileiro will come from Estadio Municipal Presidente Getulio Vargas, where Fortaleza will play host to Athletico Paranaense on Sunday night.

Fortaleza are in mid-table with seven points after five games heading into this match, while the visitors were sitting atop the table with 13 points when the league was halted earlier this month.


Match preview

Tomas Pochettino celebrates with his Fortaleza teammates after scoring a goal in May at the Copa Sudamericana© Reuters

The start of the 2023 season has been a bit of a mixed bag for Fortaleza, who are one of only three teams that are still unbeaten in the league this season, although four consecutive draws in their last five Brasileiro games has left them six points behind the league leaders.

Leao do Pici also suffered an early exit from the Copa do Brasil against Vasco da Gama but then bounced back with two solid performances in the last week, beating Sport Recife 4-1 in the Copa do Nordeste and overcoming Sportivo Trinidense 2-1 in the Copa Sudamericana.

Tomas Pochettino and Juan Martin Lucero scored for Fortaleza in midweek, which was enough for Juan Pablo Vojvoda's side to secure top spot in a tricky group that also featured Boca Juniors and Nacional Potosi.

While Fortaleza are still in search of their first league win on home soil this season, they are a difficult side to beat at Estadio Municipal Presidente Getulio Vargas, having played out three 1-1 draws in each of their home matches this season, while only conceding two defeats since August 13 last term.

The last encounter between these sides ended in a 1-1 draw at Ligga Arena last season, a result that marked Fortaleza's fifth match unbeaten against this opponent (W2 D3 L0) dating back to July 2021.

Athletico Paranaense's Vitor Roque celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates on June 21, 2023© Reuters

Meanwhile, after ending last season as the first side below Copa Libertadores qualification, Athletico Paranaense have laid a solid foundation to ensure they do not suffer the same fate this term.

They have shot out the blocks with four wins, one draw and one loss in their first six games of the league campaign, leaving them top of the standings, marginally ahead of Bahia, who are also have a very strong start to the season.

Furacao booked their place in the knockout stage of the Copa Sudamericana, finishing second in their group behind Sportivo Ameliano, and while they lost their last two group-stage matches, they had already secured their qualification before those fixtures were played, thanks to four consecutive wins in their first four group-stage games.

One of the biggest improvements noticed since Cuca took the reigns has been the side's defensive solidity, as they ended the Paranaense 1 league with three consecutive clean sheets and have already managed four shutouts in six games in Brasileiro to date.

However, despite the positive start they have made this season, Athletico-PR's away record this term is less impressive, with one win earned in their first three games, while they lost to Gremio and were only able to take a point from newly promoted Juventude at the end of last month.

Fortaleza Brasileiro form:


Fortaleza form (all competitions):


Athletico Paranaense Brasileiro form:


Athletico Paranaense form (all competitions):



Team News

Joao Ricardo celebrates with his Fortaleza teammates after defeating Boca Juniors at the Copa Sudamericana in May 2024© Reuters

Fortaleza will have to make do without the services of midfield duo Calebe and Lucas Sasha, who are ruled out until the end of June with a thigh and knee injury respectively.

Benjamin Kuscevic and Titi have formed a formidable defensive duo for the hosts this season and should form the heart of the backline here, having started every league game for Vojvoda's side so far.

For the visitors, left-back Lucas Esquivel will not be ineligible for selection, having been sent off midway through the second half against Palmeiras in the team's last league outing.

Gabriel is the most likely to come into the side in Esquivel's absence, while Agustin Canobbio, who is the Athletico's top scorer with three goals this season, will also be hoping to make the starting 11 this week after coming off the bench last time out.


Fortaleza possible starting lineup:
Ricardo; Tinga, Kuscevic, Titi, Pacheco; Augusto, Hercules, Lopes, Pochettino, Marinho; Kayzer

Athletico Paranaense possible starting lineup:
Bento; Godoy, Rocha, Gamarra, Bueno; Carvalho, Filipino; Nikao, Zapelli, Cuello; Pablo


SM words green background

We say: Fortaleza 1-1 Athletico Paranaense

While Athletico Paranaense have raced to the top of the league standings, there are still a few question marks about whether they will be able to sustain that level of performance, especially given their average away record.

Fortaleza have certainly not set the league alight this term, but they have maintained an unbeaten league record after five games, and we feel they will take a share of the spoils from this one as well.



For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.




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Game History

How you voted: Fortaleza vs Athletico PR

Fortaleza
14.3%
Draw
14.3%
Athletico Paranaense
71.4%
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rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Botafogo32207552262667
2PalmeirasPalmeiras32187753272661
3FortalezaFortaleza32179644321260
4FlamengoFlamengo32177851371458
5InternacionalInternacional321511644281656
6Sao Paulo321661045331254
7Bahia32137124240246
8Cruzeiro32128123634244
9Vasco da GamaVasco32127133646-1043
10Atletico Mineiro311011104246-441
11Gremio32116153841-339
12Vitoria32115163746-938
13Corinthians32911123740-338
14Fluminense32107152834-637
15CriciumaCriciuma32910133846-837
16BragantinoBragantino32811133440-635
17Athletico ParanaenseAthletico PR3197153339-634
18JuventudeJuventude32810143851-1334
19Cuiaba32610162541-1628
20Atletico GoianienseAtletico GO3267192450-2625


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