Top faces bottom in the Brasileiro table when America Mineiro take on Botafogo on Wednesday.
America Mineiro have failed to win their last five matches, whereas Botafogo finally returned to winning ways last time out.
Match preview
© Reuters
Having finished in the top half in each of the last two seasons following their promotion in 2021, America Mineiro have surprisingly flattered to deceive during the current campaign, and they look set to suffer a third relegation in eight years as a result.
Fabian Bustos has struggled to make the positive impact which he would have hoped for following his appointment as head coach in early August, losing seven of his 11 games in charge so far, with the latest of those losses coming away to Fortaleza last weekend.
Gonzalo Mastriani looked to have provided his side with an invaluable victory when striking twice within the opening 23 minutes, but goals from Juan Martin Lucero, Imanol Machuca and Bruno Pacheco completed an inspired comeback for Fortaleza, who moved up to sixth in the process.
Three points would have seen America Mineiro move off the foot of the table, but instead they will host the runaway leaders from the bottom with time running out for Bustos and his players to save themselves.
© Reuters
Despite collecting just one point from four matches prior to their win away to Fluminense last weekend, Botafogo will travel to Belo Horizonte in midweek with a significant nine-point gap at the division's summit.
Sixteen wins from their opening 21 league games - losing just twice in the process - provided Pantera with a seemingly insurmountable lead at the top of the table, but successive defeats to Flamengo, Atletico Mineiro and Corinthians in September seemed to suggest that they were in danger of blowing their lead.
After all, Botafogo have not won Brazil's Serie A title since 1995, which places a lot of pressure on their playing and management staff. Their potentially historic season has been made all the more remarkable by them enduring turmoil off the pitch, too, with Luis Castro departing for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia at the end of June.
His replacements Claudio Cacapa and former Wolverhampton Wanderers boss Bruno Lage have since been sacked due to mixed results, but Lucio Flavio began with positive intent when helping his new side return to winning ways in his first game in charge away to Fluminense last time out.
Early strikes from Junior Santos and Tiquinho Soares proved enough for their side to increase their lead at the top of the table, and they will be hoping to replicate that against the division's poorest performing team in their next game.
Team News
© Reuters
America Mineiro are likely to remain without Rodrigo Varanda, Matheusinho, Wanderson and Aloisio due to injury, with the quartet set to return to first-team action later this month.
Matheus Cavichioli missed his side's trip to Fortaleza last time out due to illness and may not be fit enough to start here, meaning that Washington Aguerre would continue to deputise in goal.
Botafogo, on the other hand, appear to have a fully-fit squad at their disposal, meaning that should he wish to, Flavio is free to select the same starting XI as his first one in charge from the victory against Fluminense.
That would mean the likes of Luis Henrique and Carlos Alberto having to settle on appearing from the bench once again, with Tiquinho and Junior Santos almost certainly set to continue in attack after scoring the first goals of Flavio's reign.
America Mineiro possible starting lineup:
Aguerre; Marlon, Maidana, Avelar; Rodriguinho, Martinez, Juninho, Vichiatto; Wellington, Everaldo; Mastriani
Botafogo possible starting lineup:
Perri; Di Placido, Adryelson, Cuesta, Marcal; Tche Tche, Freitas; Santos, Eduardo, Sa; Tiquinho
We say: America Mineiro 0-2 Botafogo
Botafogo will have felt a significant weight being removed from their shoulders when ending their winless run away to Fluminense last time out, and they will be confident of picking up enough points between now and the end of the season to be crowned champions.
America Mineiro, on the other hand, appear destined for relegation after enduring a disastrous season so far, and we can only envisage their winless streak extending against the league leaders.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
