On the brink of their first semi-final appearance at the Copa Sudamericana, Fortaleza will host America Mineiro on Thursday at Arena Castelao.

Leao do Pici won the opening match between these two teams last week 3-1, their third successive victory away from home in this competition.

Match preview

Thiago Galhardo in action for Fortaleza on September 10, 2022 © Reuters

Another splendid counter-attacking display in the first leg has put Fortaleza in the pole position to make it into the next round of this tournament, as they found the back of the net on their only three targeted efforts.

Using the width of the pitch while utilising their speed down the wings has proven to be quite effective for a side that have been clinical when the chances are presented to them, while they have done equally well to cover the space left in behind, conceding a goal or fewer in all but one of their Sudamericana encounters this season.

Juan Pablo Vojvoda's men have put together some dominating results at home in this competition, going unbeaten in four encounters, outscoring their opponents by a margin of 14-4.

They have also never relinquished a lead after the opening leg of a two-legged affair in any knockout tie at the Sudamericana or Copa do Brasil since returning to the Brazilian top flight in 2019.

Fortaleza have come out flying from the opening whistle in their recent encounters, with seven goals in their last three matches in all competitions, six of which have come in the first half.

In their only two home matches played against America Mineiro, Fortaleza have emerged victorious both times, while they have not conceded a goal against them at Arena Castelao.

America Mineiro's Danilo Avelar celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates on June 22, 2023 © Reuters

America were hit with a flurry of attacks in the opening half last Thursday, putting their Sudamericana hopes in danger.

Fabian Bustos's side did not play all that poorly, with five efforts on target and 58% of the possession, but they failed to unlock that stingy Fortaleza backline and struggled to contain them in transition.

Having gone winless after normal time in eight successive away matches in all competitions would suggest their odds of overcoming this deficit are long, but they were also behind twice in the second leg at Bragantino in the round of 16 and were able to rescue themselves, eventually eliminating the Red Bull club on penalties.

Coelho have only captured one away match in this year's Sudamericana but have not won a road contest by at least two goals since defeating Cruzeiro in the opening leg of their Campeonato Mineiro semi-final tie against them in March.

It may look bleak right now for America in this competition, but they should have a little momentum coming into this match after narrowly defeating Sao Paulo in league play last weekend (2-1).

America have also found themselves behind heading into a decisive match in the knockout stage of this tournament before and managed to persevere, eliminating Colo-Colo in the round of 32 thanks to a 5-1 home triumph after losing the opener to the Chileans 2-1.

Fortaleza Copa Sudamericana form:

Fortaleza form (all competitions):

America Mineiro Copa Sudamericana form:

America Mineiro form (all competitions):

Team News

Fortaleza coach Juan Pablo Vojvoda on May 14, 2023 © Reuters

Calebe was absent in the opening leg of this tie as the Fortaleza man is still dealing with a problem in his knee, while Hercules will not return this season due to an ACL injury.

Marcelo Benevenuto, who was forced out of the first match with America because of a red card suspension, will be eligible to return to the lineup for this game.

A brace from Guilherme, sandwiched in between one by Tomas Pochettino, was more than enough for them to claim a comfortable victory last Thursday.

Adyson could be unavailable once again for America in this game as he and Julio have sprained ankles, while Aloisio, Wanderson and Martin Benitez are all questionable with thigh injuries.

We saw a very different looking Mineiro side versus Fortaleza when compared to the one which began their previous Sudamericana encounter against Bragantino, as Eder, Juninho, Javier Mendez and Paulinho Boia were the only players to keep their place in the starting 11.

Gonzalo Mastriani was the only player to find the mark for Coelho in the first leg of this tie, the fourth for him in their last three Sudamericana affairs.

Fortaleza possible starting lineup:
Ricardo; Tinga, Britez, Titi, Pacheco; Welison, Alexandre; Crispim, Pochettino, Guilherme; Romarinho

America Mineiro possible starting lineup:
Cavichioli; Borges, Eder, Burgos, Marlon; Juninho, Kal, Varanda, Boia; Azevedo, Mastriani

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We say: Fortaleza 2-0 America Mineiro (Fortaleza advances 5-1 on aggregate)

America have proven to be a resilient bunch in this competition, but facing a side as well-balanced as Fortaleza, and given the struggles of Mineiro in front of goal, we have a hard believing they will be able to reverse the current scoreline in their favour.

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