Both Sao Paulo and Ceara return to Brasileiro action on Saturday following successful results in the Copa Sudamericana in midweek.
The hosts extended their long unbeaten run with a narrow victory, whilst the visitors continued their fine cup form with a win themselves, although their results in the league have been a far different story.
Match preview
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Sao Paulo made it 11 games unbeaten across all competitions with a a narrow 1-0 victory over Peruvian outfit Ayacucho in the Copa Sudamericana on Wednesday.
Rogerio Ceni's side had already sealed their progression to the next stage prior to the tie, but nonetheless, a young second-string lineup just about got the job done at the Morumbi Stadium, with 18-year-old Caio Matheus netting the only goal of the game.
With regards to the Brasileiro, which Sao Paulo must quickly turn their attentions back to on Saturday, the hosts head into the encounter in an impressive third spot in the table.
Just one defeat has been suffered in the league during 2022, which arrived at giants Flamengo back in mid April, so Tricolor Paulista certainly head into this tie with plenty of confidence.
Last weekend, Ceni's side picked up an impressive 1-1 draw at league leaders Corinthians, and Sao Paulo could quite easily have taken all three points from the giant clash had they taken their chances, but the result continued their impressive start to the season regardless, as they look to drastically improve on last year's 13th-placed finish.
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Meanwhile, visitors Ceara also head into this Brasileiro meeting on the back of some success in midweek, having picked up a thoroughly impressive 2-0 victory at Argentinian outfit Independiente on Wednesday evening.
The excellent result from Dorival Junior's side saw them confirm top spot, and progression to the next stage, from Group G in the Copa Sudamericana with a 100% record having conceded just one goal in their six fixtures.
It also means that Ceara continued their fine form in this year's cup competitions under Junior, having won all eight cup ties played under the 60-year-old since his appointment in April.
However, as alluded to above, Saturday's visitors have fared rather differently in the Brasileiro so far this campaign, with just one win to their name in their opening six outings so far.
That win did remarkably arrive at second-placed Palmeiras, but since that opening day victory, Ceara have picked up just two points from their five fixtures since, although the last of these points arrived impressively once again, with a 0-0 draw being picked up at sixth-placed Santos last weekend despite playing much of the second half with 10 men.
Junior will be looking for his side to repeat some of that spirit shown when they face another trip to a high-flying side on Saturday, as well as looking for them to produce some of the results from the cup competitions in the Brasileiro too.
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Team News
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After putting out a second-string starting 11 in midweek, Ceni will revert back to a more familiar lineup on Saturday.
Former Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan defender Miranda led an inexperienced side against Ayacucho, but even the 37-year-old is likely to drop out at the weekend.
The hosts have only two injury concerns to contend with as well, with Andres Colorado and Gabriel Sara the only doubts, due to muscle and ankle injuries respectively.
Jonathan Calleri will lead the line for Ceni's men, having netted seven goals in as many games in the Brasileiro so far this year.
As for the visitors, they will be without central midfielder Richard Coelho following his straight red card at Santos last weekend.
Coelho will be joined by Buiu, Vinicius Goes, Dentinho and Jael on the sidelines, with all four ruled out through injury, whilst Leo Rafael and Fernando Sobral remain doubts due to injury problems themselves.
Unlike his counterpart at the weekend, Junior was unable to rest his entire preferred starting 11 in the week, but Ceara will be able to make several changes on Saturday following some rotation ahead of the win at Independiente on Wednesday.
Sao Paulo possible starting lineup:
Jandrei; Costa, Arboleda, Leo; Rafinha, Gomes, Nestor, Patrick; Luciano, Calleri, Alisson
Ceara possible starting lineup:
Ricardo; Macedo, Messias, Lacerda, Pacheco; Richardson, Lindoso, Lima; Erick, Vina, Mendoza
We say: Sao Paulo 2-0 Ceara
Despite there being five successive 1-1 draws in previous meetings between these two sides, we can see there being a winner on Saturday, with hosts Sao Paulo surely having enough in them to record all three points.
The home side were able to rest all of their first 11 in the week, and head into the game on the back of some solid form following an excellent start to the campaign, whilst the visitors head to Sao Paulo following a tiring trip to Argentina in midweek, and with some questionable form in the Brasileiro so far this season.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Matthew Tranter
