Vasco da Gama seek to put their wretched Brasileiro form behind them in Saturday night's gameweek 11 encounter with Sao Paulo at Sao Januario.
The hosts have not won a league game in over a month, but they hope to end that run against a side experiencing a mini wobble after three matches without success.
Match preview
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When Vasco da Gama beat Vitoria on May 12, the club's supporters probably hoped that the 2-1 triumph would be the fillip required for a return to form.
However, Cruzmaltino have not built on that success, underlined by three losses and a draw over the following four matches which sees them rank 16th just above Corinthians (both on seven points) by virtue of winning one more game.
More bothersome for Alvaro Pacheco's men has been their inability to score consistently, with the team firing blanks in three consecutive games — 2-0 losses to Palmeiras and Juventude and a goalless home match against Cruzeiro.
Appointing Pacheco in late May has not provoked a turnaround, with only one goal scored in four league games, a 6-1 defeat by Flamengo on their turf, underscoring the 16th-placed side's mediocre results.
With seven goals in 10 games, only third-bottom Gremio (six) have netted fewer than Vasco, and 21 conceded — comfortably the worst in the Brazil top division — means that the home side face an uphill task this weekend.
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Sao Paulo hope to take advantage of their hosts' awful defensive record when they seek to halt a three-match winless sequence on Saturday night.
Despite failing to win in back-to-back league games (two draws), Luis Zubeldia's men were undefeated in 13 matches in all competitions (seven in the league) before facing Petit's Cuiaba.
However, Tricolor Paulista suffered a shock 1-0 loss on their turf to inflict the club's first loss since Zubeldia's appointment in late April.
How they react to finally losing is anyone's guess, even if travelling supporters will hope their side are better in front of goal against the worst defence in the league having fired blanks in two of their recent three league fixtures — a goalless encounter with Internacional and a 1-0 defeat by Cuiaba.
Recent results in this fixture favour Sao Paulo, with Tricolor Paulista undefeated in five matches in all competitions, underlined by the away side's three victories and two draws since a 2-1 loss four years back in August 2020, and they hope to make that four wins from six this weekend.
Team News
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Victor Luis was sent off in second-half stoppage time against Juventude and is missing for Vasco this weekend.
While Robert Rojas's participation is uncertain due to a concussion, Dimitri Payet, Bruno Praxedes (both thigh) and Paulinho Paula (knee) are not expected to feature in gameweek 11.
Sao Paulo are still without the quartet of Rafael (Brazil), Nahuel Ferraresi (Venezuela), James Rodriguez (Colombia) and Damian Bobadilla (Paraguay) for several games due to the Copa America being held in the United States.
Alisson will serve a one-match suspension after his yellow against Cuiaba, while Pablo Maia (thigh) and Rafinha (broken leg) are absent.
Vasco da Gama possible starting lineup:
Jardim; Henrique, Maicon, Leo, Piton; Galdames, Ze Gabriel; Rossi, Pedro, Adson; Clayton
Sao Paulo possible starting lineup:
Jandrei; Vinicius, Arboleda, Costa, Welington; Galoppo, Gustavo; Rato, Luciano, Araujo; Calleri
We say: Vasco da Gama 0-1 Sao Paulo
While Sao Paulo have struggled for goals and results recently, they should muster enough chances to nick one against a Vasco side with the leakiest rearguard in the Brasileiro, thus seeing the away side extend their undefeated run against their opponents to six matches in all competitions.
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