Corinthians will be hoping to return to winning ways in Brasileiro this weekend when they take on Juventude at Neo Quimica Arena on Sunday evening.
The hosts enter this contest in 15th place in the league standings with 19 points, while the visitors are currently in 13th place with 21 points earned to date.
Match preview
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After finishing the 2020 and 2021 seasons in the top five, Corinthians have found it tough going over the last two league campaigns, managing only 13th last term and currently sitting just two spots above the drop this season.
Indeed, if they lose this weekend and Gremio and Vitoria avoid defeat in their matches, Timao will find themselves below the dotted line and facing a mountain to climb to get back in contention for Copa Sudamericana qualification.
Under the guidance of Ramon Diaz, who replaced Toni Oliveira last month, Corinthians have failed to win any of their last three matches, drawing 2-2 with Gremio and losing 2-1 to Atletico Mineiro before playing out a goalless draw to Imortal Tricolor in the Copa do Brasil in midweek.
However, the new boss has yet to taste defeat at home since taking charge, overseeing a win and a draw so far, while his side have not been beaten at Neo Quimica Arena in their last five matches, including two wins and three draws.
These two sides locked horns back in April at Estadio Alfredo Jaconi and Corinthians lost that encounter 2-0, with Jean Carlos and Lucas Barbosa getting on the scoresheet for Juventude.
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Barbosa is Juventude's top-scorer this season with four goals to his name, and he was on the scoresheet again in midweek when his side secured a 3-2 first-leg lead over Fluminense in the Copa do Brasil last eight.
That result saw Verdao snap up a five-match winless streak in all competitions and they will look to carry that momentum into this match as they aim to secure their first league win since beating Gremio on July 7.
Jair Ventura has faced a tricky start to life with Verdao and has yet to win his first league match at the helm since taking over from Roger Machado, who part ways with the club after their 1-1 draw against Atletico Mineiro last month.
Ventura's primary goal will be to help the side survive the drop this season, but in order to do so, he will need to find a way to improve their dismal away record.
Juventude are currently on a five-match losing streak on the road in the top flight and have only earned two points in eight outings this season, which is the worst record in the division.
Team News
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Corinthians will have to make do without the services of as many as six players this weekend, including Igor Coronado and Angel Romero, who are suspended due to an accumulation of yellow cards.
The remaining absentees for the hosts are Yuri Alberto, Diego Palacios, Maycon and Ruan, all of whom are injured, with the latter two facing extended periods on the sideline with serious knee injuries.
Joao Lucas missed Juventude's last two matches after sustaining a hamstring strain against Cruzeiro last month but he is expected to return to action this weekend and could make the starting 11.
Danilo Boza's hamstring injury has proved more serious than originally anticipated and he has been ruled out for this match while Kleiton remains the side's only long-term injury absentee.
Corinthians possible starting lineup:
Souza; Fagner, Torres, Ramalho, Hugo, Santana, Raniele, Charles, Garro; Giovane, Gassova
Juventude possible starting lineup:
Gabriel; Lucas, Marcos, Freitas, Ruschel, Goncalves, Jadson, Barbosa, Carlos, Farias, Oliveira
We say: Corinthians 2-1 Juventude
While Corinthians have been slipping in the league standings in recent weeks, they have maintained an impressive home record, unbeaten in their last five while scoring two or more in all but one of those matches.
Juventude, on the other hand, are winless on the road this season and are riding a five-match losing streak into this one having conceded two or more in each of those defeats. As a result, we feel the hosts will secure the points in this match.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Devesh Jaganath
