Brazilian Serie A - 12th round preview

Six games on Wednesday and three on Thursday complete the 12th round of the 2007 Brazilian Serie A football league. The first match of this round was played more than a month ago, when Botafogo beat Vasco 4-0 in an anticipated match rescheduled because of the ongoing Pan-American games in Rio de Janeiro.

Here's a preview for Wednesday's matches:

INTER x CORINTHIANS
Inter goes back home after defeating Nautico on the weekend in Recife. Mourning the death of former president Paulo Amoretty in the TAM airplane crashed that killed 200 people on Tuesday, the locals have a chance to get closer to the top of the standings, against a Corinthians team that hasn't won in five games, but which is also coming a decent performance in a 1-1 tie with Sao Paulo on the weekend. Defensive midfielder Bruno Otavio is questionable for the visitors. Alexandre Pato returns to Inter's starting lineup after taking part on the U-20 Fifa World Cup in Canada. Defender Indio, who was suspended for the last game, also returns.

SAO PAULO x FLUMINENSE
Sao Paulo will try to move closer to Botafogo, facing a tough team in Brazilian Cup champions Fluminense at the Morumbi Stadium. Without conceding too many goals, the team must find a way to score more if it wants to remain among the top teams in the standings. In its past three matches, the team has scored only two goals, managing a win and two ties. So a 1-0 win for the locals would not be too surprising, especially given the fact they haven't lost to Fluminense at home in the last 23 years. Defender Alex Silva, who returned to the team after the Copa America, is out with a shoulder injury, together with forward Aloisio and Jorge Wagner. Josue is also back from the Brazilian National team, while midfielder Hugo returns from a three-game suspension. Coach Renato Gaucho, on the other hand, hasn't confirmed which team will start against Sao Paulo, but it's possible he'll adopt a 3-6-1 formation during the game.

NAUTICO x CRUZEIRO
Last place Nautico gets another chance at home to start climbing out of the bottom of the standings. It faces an unpredictable Cruzeiro team, which is coming off a good win over second place Goias at home, but which has not been playing well on the road recently. The locals have lost the two last games they played in front of their fans, though. Nautico will be without defender Alysson, who was recently transferred, injured goalkeeper Fabiano and defensive midfielders Vagner Rosa, Daniel Sobralense and Luciano. Daniel Paulista is also out for Nautico, suspended. Cruzeiro will have the same team that beat Goias 2-1 on Saturday, the first time in 43 games that the team fields the same starting lineup in two consecutive matches.

ATLETICO MINEIRO x AMERICA NATAL
Atletico Mineiro has a must win match at home against a team in the relegation zone, America Natal. The locals should be careful not to give appropriate credit to their opponents though, since America has played decently as visitor in the past few games - not at home though, losing all six games it played in Natal. Atletico will change the team in relation to the one that started in the 2-0 loss to Sport on Saturday. Forward Eder Luis and midfielders Bilu and Danilinho are out suspended, while right-back Coelho was removed from the starting eleven in favour of Claudio. For America, right-back Eduardo returns to the team after being sidelined due to a pink eye, while forward Paulo Isidoro, who did not play on the weekend because he was getting married, also returns.

ATLETICO PARANAENSE x JUVENTUDE
Inconsistent Atletico Paranaense hosts a defensive-minded Juventude team that usually provides a tough test to any team facing it. Which Atletico team will show up, the one that beat Palmeiras 2-0 on the road or the one that tied Nautico 1-1 at home? After two away losses in which coach Antonio Lopes had to make some changes due to injury or suspensions, most regulars will be back for this match. Only defensive midfielder Valencia has not been cleared to return yet from injury. The team is confident that the return of its top players, including top scorer Alex Mineiro, will improve the attack, which hasn't scored in its past two games. Juventude will be without forward Michel, injured, and suspended defender Leonardo Silva and forward Eber. Alex Alves is also out with a longer suspension, after failing a doping exam.

FIGUEIRENSE x SPORT
Sport has not been playing well away from home this season, but the team must show the same effort it's shown at home if it is to stay in the Serie A next year. With three wins in its past four games, Sport has climbed out of the relegation zone, where it plans to stay. Tonight it will have a tough time getting three points against a determined Figueirense team, but a point is not out of the question. Figueirense is currently in sixth, one point out of a Libertadores spot among the top four in the standings. Midfielders Carlinhos and Fernandes are out injured for Figueirense, alongside defender Edson and captain Chicao. Right-back Ruy returns to the team after one month. Midfielder Rosembrick is injured and will not play for Sport, the same happening to another midfielder on the team, Adriano. Finally, Romerito, who made his debut for the team on Saturday, is out suspended - he had collected two yellow cards while on Goias earlier this season, and the third on his debut with Sport.

Three games close out the 12th round on Thursday, with Goias hosting Gremio, Flamengo playing in Uberlandia against Parana and Santos going to Sao Paulo to face Palmeiras.