Three matches on Thursday

Three matches complete the 14th round of the Brazilian Serie A football league on Thursday.

SAO PAULO-SPORT
Trailing the league leaders by three points, Sao Paulo will try to regain second place in the standings when it hosts Sport tonight at the Morumbi Stadium. The defending champions have been quite inconsistent lately, but hope that Sunday's 2-1 away win against Cruzeiro is the start to a more stable period that can push the team in its quest towards a fifth National title. Sport is not the team that started the season among the worst in the league though, having improved significantly over the last few weeks. The team has one draw - against leaders Botafogo at home - and two wins - including a 1-0 away win over Figueirense - in its last two games. Sport, which has lost all 10 games it has ever played against Sao Paulo at the Morumbi Stadium, hopes to have the debut of midfielder Adriano Gabiru. Gustavo replaces Du Lopes on defense, while Weldon joins the attack in place of Washington. With an injury to defender Alex Silva and his defense partner Breno being suspended, coach Muricy Ramalho will likely change Sao Paulo's formation. He may include three defensive midfielders: Hernanes, Richarlyson and Josue - returning from suspension. Reasco replaces Ilsinho - who is being sold to Ukraine's Shakhtar Donetsk - as right-back.

ATLETICO MINEIRO-FLUMINENSE
After an embarrassing 4-0 road loss to Vasco last Saturday, Atletico Mineiro fired coach Zetti and hired controversial Emerson Leao, who will still watch from the sidelines while Marcelo Oliveira, the coach from the team's U-20 squad, sits on the bench. The team hopes the change can have an immediate effect on the pitch, but it will have a difficult time against an emerging Fluminense side, coming off good victories over Sao Paulo and Goias. The team coached by Renato Gaucho hasn't lost on the road since May 20, when it lost to Gremio in the 2nd round of the season. Right-back Carlinhos will not play for the visitors, due to an injury. Goalkeeper Diego has been sold to Spain's Almeria and will be replaced by Edson. Lima is suspended, being replaced by Leandro Almeida on defense. Coelho returns to the left-back position.

BOTAFOGO-JUVENTUDE
After learning it will be without top forward Dodo for 120 days due to a suspension for doping, Botafogo faces Juventude in Rio de Janeiro with closed gates. The team was punished after a cup of water was thrown on the field during the derby against Fluminense, and thus the public will not be allowed in for tonight's game. Juventude recovered from a 4-0 loss to Atletico Paranaense by beating Internacional 2-0 at home last Saturday. The team must win to once again climb out of the relegation zone. The locals will be without midfielder Ze Roberto, punished for missing a training session on Tuesday and being spotted in another city while he was supposed to be home recovering from the flu. Maraba and Luciano played well coming from the bench against Inter and will start for Juventude, which will be without right-back Barao, suspended.