Brazilian Serie A - round 26 preview.
Gremio and Sao Paulo are away this weekend trying to keep some distance to the other title chasers Santos and Internacional, who have tough matches at home. The bottom-half of the table also has interesting matches, as three teams must start winning soon to keep any chance of remaining in the elite of Brazilian soccer. The Brazilian Serie A soccer championship reaches two-third mark with the 26th round, with two games on Saturday and the remaining on Sunday.
Here are my views for this weekend's games.
FLUMINENSE x FORTALEZA: Fluminense got a good result by tying Santos away from home on Wednesday, and hopes to keep up the momentum going when it faces Fortaleza at home on Saturday. With 34 points, the locals still have a shot at a Libertadores spot, but are not so far away from the bottom of the standings either (just four points ahead of 17th place). Marcao, Roger and Petkovic are out with injuries, but left-back Marcelo returns from a one-match ban. Fortaleza lost an away game to Parana 2-0 and remains second last, seven points out of 16th place. Midfielder Wendel and defender Emerson are out after being sent off in the last game. Defender Alan and midfielder Lucio return after sitting out the last match suspended. It doesn't help the visitors the fact they are now winless in their last seven games.
ATLETICO PARANAENSE x SAO CAETANO: Atletico Paranaense tied Goias 2-2 away at Goiania on Wednesday, but the result certainly felt like a win. After all, the team had fallen behind by two goals but still managed to recover and fight for the draw. This weekend the team hopes it doesn't have to suffer so much when facing a falling Sao Caetano, in a rematch of the 2001 Brazilian League Final. The locals will probably change a player in midfield, after a poor display of that sector in the first half of the Goias game. Atletico has won four of its last five home games, while the visitors have not won in eight matches, losing three straight. A local win is the most probable result here.
INTERNACIONAL x CORINTHIANS: Inter tries to recover from two straight losses by returning home to Porto Alegre to face Corinthians. The locals know they must win to keep any title hope alive - having fallen nine points behind leaders Sao Paulo. Forward Fernandao returns, but defender Indio and midfielder Adriano are suspended for this game. Corinthians definitely seems improved under coach Emerson Leao, but have not shown much away from home. The visitors will be without midfielder Rosinei, suspended, but have midfielder Renato coming back from his ban. In the rematch of last year's battle between champions and runners-up of the league, the locals seem to have an advantage. One must remember that Inter has only two wins in its last eight home games though, while Corinthians is unbeaten in its last four away matches.
FIGUEIRENSE x PARANA: Figueirense hopes to build on the good 1-0 win over Internacional in its last match, and again plays at home this weekend, this time facing Parana. The team from Curitiba is on a high again, returning to 5th place in the standings after a 2-0 win over Fortaleza on Wednesday. This time around, however, they may have a much tougher time to get the win. The draw is not that unlikely. Parana has lost its last five games away from home, and Figueirense hasn't lost at home in ten matches.
SANTOS x FLAMENGO: Santos finally plays its last game at home against a team from Rio, hoping to have better luck against Flamengo than the other teams it faced from the famous beach city. A 1-1 draw against Fluminense on Wednesday was the third time in three games that Santos lost points at home against teams from Rio, the only ones to do so at the Vila Belmiro this year. Flamengo gets to the game in great form, having won its last three games. Due to this retrospect, Flamengo can get at least a point here, but will be without midfielder Leo Medeiros, suspended. Paulinho and Leo return from suspension though, and will reinforce the team's midfield. Savio and Renato Augusto may also return from injury. Santos will be playing their hearts out trying to hang on to their faint title hopes here though. Maldonado could be allowed to undergo an ankle surgery that would keep him out for two months for Santos, including this game. Goalkeeper Fabio Costa, involved in a fight with fans after the game against Fluminense, will play.
SANTA CRUZ x JUVENTUDE: Santa Cruz fans still believe their team can stay in the First Division next year, and may turn out in big numbers trying to push the team to a second straight win here. After beating Palmeiras 3-2, the team ended a ten-game winless streak, but is still nine points behing 16th place Ponte Preta, which has 30 points. Juventude showed it lacks the consistency to play well away from home after falling to Botafogo 2-1 on Wednesday. It has a better chance of getting a positive result here, but one should not doubt the determination the local players may show after some of their confidence has been restored in the last game. Juventude has only one win and one draw in its last nine away games this season. Defenders Fabricio and Igor and midfielder Ivo are out for the visitors.
PALMEIRAS x SAO PAULO: After an eleven-game unbeaten streak following the World Cup break, Palmeiras has now lost two matches in a row. Tied with 17th placed Goias with 30 points, the team desperately needs to start winning again to escape the risk of relegation. A tough schedule for September continues however, as the team plays leaders Sao Paulo in a local derby. Forward Edmundo left the last game with an injury to his shoulder and is still questionable. Sao Paulo hopes to improve significantly from its poor display against Sao Caetano, in which the team was fortunate to score a 1-0 away win to stay four points clear of Gremio at the top of the table and keep unbeaten in its last ten games. Defender Alex Silva and left-back Junior return from suspension, while defender Edcarlos is still questionable. Right-back Souza has recovered from an injury but may start the game from the bench. Palmeiras is unbeaten in seven games at home, but this game will be played in Presidente Prudente, not the Parque Antarctica - and it's also a derby. Sao Paulo has an impressive eight-game unbeaten run away from home. Anything can happen here, but Sao Paulo is still the favorite.
PONTE PRETA x CRUZEIRO: Ponte Preta is glad to return home after being embarrassed in the 4-0 away loss to Gremio in the last round. The team hopes to repeat the performance that allowed it to beat Santos last Sunday, but must improve a lot from what it displayed in Porto Alegre. The team hasn't lost in four matches at home, and coach Marco Aurelio will likely make several changes in the starting squad. Defenders Thiago Mathias and Rafael Santos are out suspended, while midfielder Iran may lose his place to Wellington. Midfielder Fabio Baiano returns from suspension, and forward Luis Mario also comes back after missing last game due to personal issues. Cruzeiro lost to Flamengo on Thursday, and continues to struggle away from Belo Horizonte. The team lost its last seven games away from home. Coach Oswaldo Oliveira will wait until Friday or Saturday to decide which team to field in this game. Due to Ponte's last match, the visitors can escape with a draw here.
VASCO x BOTAFOGO: Botafogo partially averted a crisis when it beat Juventude 2-1 on Wednesday, halting a two-game losing streak an creating some room between itself and 17th place Goias. This Sunday it has another tough matchup though, facing crosstown rivals Vasco in yet another local derby. The team did not have much success against Flamengo (2-0 loss) and Fluminense (eliminated from the Copa Sudamericana after two draws and a penalty shootout) recently, but hopes to change its fortunes against Vasco. Defender Juninho is suspended and will not play. The team from Sao Januario lost 5th place in the standings - and the last Libertadores spot - to Parana after a 1-1 draw with Corinthians on Wednesday, and is determined to win to break a run of five straight draws. Another draw seems like a probable outcome here.
GOIAS x GREMIO: Gremio has a tough test away to Goias this weekend. The team must win to remain close to Sao Paulo in the standings, but faces a determined local side that is desperately trying to get out of the bottom four in the standings. Goias missed a great chance to get three points after wasting a 2-0 lead and draw 2-2 against Atletico Paranaense on Wednesday. The team hasn't lost in five games though, and is unbeaten in its last six matches at home. Gremio, on the other hand, is coming off two straight 4-0 wins at home and is unbeaten in seven. For Goias, defender Leonardo is suspended, but midfielder Robson Luiz returns from his one-match ban. Gremio will be without one of its most important players, midfielder Hugo, who is also suspended. The visitors are the favorites, but Goias can very well battle for at least a point.
Here are my views for this weekend's games.
FLUMINENSE x FORTALEZA: Fluminense got a good result by tying Santos away from home on Wednesday, and hopes to keep up the momentum going when it faces Fortaleza at home on Saturday. With 34 points, the locals still have a shot at a Libertadores spot, but are not so far away from the bottom of the standings either (just four points ahead of 17th place). Marcao, Roger and Petkovic are out with injuries, but left-back Marcelo returns from a one-match ban. Fortaleza lost an away game to Parana 2-0 and remains second last, seven points out of 16th place. Midfielder Wendel and defender Emerson are out after being sent off in the last game. Defender Alan and midfielder Lucio return after sitting out the last match suspended. It doesn't help the visitors the fact they are now winless in their last seven games.
ATLETICO PARANAENSE x SAO CAETANO: Atletico Paranaense tied Goias 2-2 away at Goiania on Wednesday, but the result certainly felt like a win. After all, the team had fallen behind by two goals but still managed to recover and fight for the draw. This weekend the team hopes it doesn't have to suffer so much when facing a falling Sao Caetano, in a rematch of the 2001 Brazilian League Final. The locals will probably change a player in midfield, after a poor display of that sector in the first half of the Goias game. Atletico has won four of its last five home games, while the visitors have not won in eight matches, losing three straight. A local win is the most probable result here.
INTERNACIONAL x CORINTHIANS: Inter tries to recover from two straight losses by returning home to Porto Alegre to face Corinthians. The locals know they must win to keep any title hope alive - having fallen nine points behind leaders Sao Paulo. Forward Fernandao returns, but defender Indio and midfielder Adriano are suspended for this game. Corinthians definitely seems improved under coach Emerson Leao, but have not shown much away from home. The visitors will be without midfielder Rosinei, suspended, but have midfielder Renato coming back from his ban. In the rematch of last year's battle between champions and runners-up of the league, the locals seem to have an advantage. One must remember that Inter has only two wins in its last eight home games though, while Corinthians is unbeaten in its last four away matches.
FIGUEIRENSE x PARANA: Figueirense hopes to build on the good 1-0 win over Internacional in its last match, and again plays at home this weekend, this time facing Parana. The team from Curitiba is on a high again, returning to 5th place in the standings after a 2-0 win over Fortaleza on Wednesday. This time around, however, they may have a much tougher time to get the win. The draw is not that unlikely. Parana has lost its last five games away from home, and Figueirense hasn't lost at home in ten matches.
SANTOS x FLAMENGO: Santos finally plays its last game at home against a team from Rio, hoping to have better luck against Flamengo than the other teams it faced from the famous beach city. A 1-1 draw against Fluminense on Wednesday was the third time in three games that Santos lost points at home against teams from Rio, the only ones to do so at the Vila Belmiro this year. Flamengo gets to the game in great form, having won its last three games. Due to this retrospect, Flamengo can get at least a point here, but will be without midfielder Leo Medeiros, suspended. Paulinho and Leo return from suspension though, and will reinforce the team's midfield. Savio and Renato Augusto may also return from injury. Santos will be playing their hearts out trying to hang on to their faint title hopes here though. Maldonado could be allowed to undergo an ankle surgery that would keep him out for two months for Santos, including this game. Goalkeeper Fabio Costa, involved in a fight with fans after the game against Fluminense, will play.
SANTA CRUZ x JUVENTUDE: Santa Cruz fans still believe their team can stay in the First Division next year, and may turn out in big numbers trying to push the team to a second straight win here. After beating Palmeiras 3-2, the team ended a ten-game winless streak, but is still nine points behing 16th place Ponte Preta, which has 30 points. Juventude showed it lacks the consistency to play well away from home after falling to Botafogo 2-1 on Wednesday. It has a better chance of getting a positive result here, but one should not doubt the determination the local players may show after some of their confidence has been restored in the last game. Juventude has only one win and one draw in its last nine away games this season. Defenders Fabricio and Igor and midfielder Ivo are out for the visitors.
PALMEIRAS x SAO PAULO: After an eleven-game unbeaten streak following the World Cup break, Palmeiras has now lost two matches in a row. Tied with 17th placed Goias with 30 points, the team desperately needs to start winning again to escape the risk of relegation. A tough schedule for September continues however, as the team plays leaders Sao Paulo in a local derby. Forward Edmundo left the last game with an injury to his shoulder and is still questionable. Sao Paulo hopes to improve significantly from its poor display against Sao Caetano, in which the team was fortunate to score a 1-0 away win to stay four points clear of Gremio at the top of the table and keep unbeaten in its last ten games. Defender Alex Silva and left-back Junior return from suspension, while defender Edcarlos is still questionable. Right-back Souza has recovered from an injury but may start the game from the bench. Palmeiras is unbeaten in seven games at home, but this game will be played in Presidente Prudente, not the Parque Antarctica - and it's also a derby. Sao Paulo has an impressive eight-game unbeaten run away from home. Anything can happen here, but Sao Paulo is still the favorite.
PONTE PRETA x CRUZEIRO: Ponte Preta is glad to return home after being embarrassed in the 4-0 away loss to Gremio in the last round. The team hopes to repeat the performance that allowed it to beat Santos last Sunday, but must improve a lot from what it displayed in Porto Alegre. The team hasn't lost in four matches at home, and coach Marco Aurelio will likely make several changes in the starting squad. Defenders Thiago Mathias and Rafael Santos are out suspended, while midfielder Iran may lose his place to Wellington. Midfielder Fabio Baiano returns from suspension, and forward Luis Mario also comes back after missing last game due to personal issues. Cruzeiro lost to Flamengo on Thursday, and continues to struggle away from Belo Horizonte. The team lost its last seven games away from home. Coach Oswaldo Oliveira will wait until Friday or Saturday to decide which team to field in this game. Due to Ponte's last match, the visitors can escape with a draw here.
VASCO x BOTAFOGO: Botafogo partially averted a crisis when it beat Juventude 2-1 on Wednesday, halting a two-game losing streak an creating some room between itself and 17th place Goias. This Sunday it has another tough matchup though, facing crosstown rivals Vasco in yet another local derby. The team did not have much success against Flamengo (2-0 loss) and Fluminense (eliminated from the Copa Sudamericana after two draws and a penalty shootout) recently, but hopes to change its fortunes against Vasco. Defender Juninho is suspended and will not play. The team from Sao Januario lost 5th place in the standings - and the last Libertadores spot - to Parana after a 1-1 draw with Corinthians on Wednesday, and is determined to win to break a run of five straight draws. Another draw seems like a probable outcome here.
GOIAS x GREMIO: Gremio has a tough test away to Goias this weekend. The team must win to remain close to Sao Paulo in the standings, but faces a determined local side that is desperately trying to get out of the bottom four in the standings. Goias missed a great chance to get three points after wasting a 2-0 lead and draw 2-2 against Atletico Paranaense on Wednesday. The team hasn't lost in five games though, and is unbeaten in its last six matches at home. Gremio, on the other hand, is coming off two straight 4-0 wins at home and is unbeaten in seven. For Goias, defender Leonardo is suspended, but midfielder Robson Luiz returns from his one-match ban. Gremio will be without one of its most important players, midfielder Hugo, who is also suspended. The visitors are the favorites, but Goias can very well battle for at least a point.
posted by fejas @ 12:40 PM
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