After a two-week break due to the floods, Brasileiro action resumes this week with Corinthians and Botafogo set to do battle at Neo Quimica Arena on June 2.
These two have made contrasting starts to the season, with the hosts entering the contest down in 16th place in the league standings while the visitors are fourth.
Match preview
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Corinthians have stumbled out the blocks this term, and after the first six games of the season, they have managed just five points, including one win, two draws and three losses.
The most recent of those defeats was at Estadio Jornalista Mario Filho on May 11, when they were beaten 2-0 on the road by high-flyers Flamengo, with Pedro and Lorran scoring a goal apiece in each half.
However, while Toni Oliveira's first league campaign in charge of Timao has not gone as he would have hoped, his side have been very impressive in the cup competitions, having won each of their last five, including three in a row during the league break.
In midweek, Corinthians overtook Racing into first place in their Copa Sudamericana group, beating the Uruguayan Primera Division outfit 3-0 thanks to goals from Rodrigo Garro and Igor Coronado either side of a Robinson Ferreira own goal.
Notably, all five points that the hosts have accumulated in the league this season have come at Neo Química Arena (W1 D2 L0). They have not lost a home match in any competition since a Paulista A1 defeat to Ponte Preta on February 26.
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Meanwhile, after winning three of their first four league games this season, Botafogo are now aiming to avoid a third consecutive match without victory following a 2-1 loss to Bahia and a 1-1 draw against Fortaleza before the league's stoppage.
However, like their opponents here, Fogo have excelled during the league break in cup competitions, having booked their spots in the fourth round of the Copa do Brasil and in the last 16 of the Copa Libertadores.
Under the guidance of Artur Jorge, who replaced Fabio Matias at the start of the domestic league campaign, O Glorioso have recorded eight wins, two draws and three losses across all competitions, and the new boss is now gunning for a sixth consecutive match without defeat (W3 D2 L0).
One of the major improvements noticed since Jorge's introduction has been the side's attacking output, having found the net seven times in the Copa Libertadores group stage, while they are the highest goalscorers in the domestic league with 12, two more than Sao Paulo in second.
Additionally, Fogo are unbeaten in their last five away games, including their last two in Brasileirao and another victory here, along with some luck in results elsewhere, could see them end gameweek seven in pole position.
Team News
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Corinthians are down a few players due to injury, including Pedro Henrique, Maycon and Ruan Oliveira, all of whom will remain sidelined for the foreseeable future with cruciate ligament injuries.
Gabriel Moscardo is out until next month with a foot injury and Diego Palacios is still recovering from a knock to his knee. Veteran defensive midfielder Fagner sustained a thigh injury against Racing and is flagged as a doubt.
For the visitors, long-term absentees include midfielder Jeffinho and centre-forward Matheus Nascimento, who are only expected to return from thigh injuries by the start of August.
Fernando Marcal and Rafael da Silva are ruled out due to a calf and knee injury respectively, while Pablo could return to the matchday squad this week after recovering from a muscle strain.
Corinthians possible starting lineup:
Miguel; Franca, Henrique, Caca, Hugo; Raniele, Bidon; Romero, Garro, Gassova; Alberto
Botafogo possible starting lineup:
John; Suarez, Halter, Bastos, Hugo; Tche Tche, Barbosa, Henrique, Freitas, Savarino; Santos
We say: Corinthians 1-1 Botafogo
While Corinthians are yet to find consistency in the league this season, their home record is among the best in the division, and they have not lost a league match to this opponent at Neo Quimica Arena in their last nine encounters at the venue.
However, Botafogo are looking very good this term under new head coach Artur Jorge, and we feel they will be able to take at least a share of the spoils from this one.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Devesh Jaganath
