Locked together on points in the Campeonato Brasileiro, Fluminense and Internacional battle it out for victory on Sunday, when they meet at the Maracana.
Flu boss Fernando Diniz was this week rewarded for his good work by being named Brazil's interim coach until 2024, and his team now clash with another contender for a top-six finish.
Match preview
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Ending a four-match unbeaten run in all competitions, Fluminense were beaten 1-0 by Sao Paulo last weekend, when conceding a late goal at Morumbi left the Rio club empty-handed.
Flu now find themselves sixth in the Serie A standings, and though they are just three points shy of reigning champions Palmeiras in third place, the same margin separates them from 12th spot in a tightly-packed table.
For his work in building a possession-based side that won the 2023 Campeonato Carioca after finishing third in the Brasileiro last term, coach Fernando Diniz has been hired as a stop-gap manager by the CBF (Brazilian Football Federation) and will split time between his club and the Brazilian national team.
He will then step aside from the Selecao ahead of next year's Copa America campaign, for which Carlo Ancelotti will take charge - however, this has caused some consternation among Fluminense fans.
In addition to keeping the Tricolor's league campaign on track and shouldering the hopes of his nation, Diniz must also oversee Flu's latest crack at the Copa Libertadores, following their recent qualification for the knockout stages.
First, though, they meet a club which did the double over them last season, and defeat this weekend would see in-form Internacional leapfrog their hosts.
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Although they were held goalless by Cruzeiro last week, Internacional still extended their unbeaten run to six league games - a spell featuring four wins and two draws.
Mano Menezes, who may choose to share his experiences as Brazil boss with Diniz on Saturday, has helped his side chart a course up the standings over the past month, in addition to joining Fluminense in the Copa Libertadores last-16.
A 3-1 victory over Independiente Medellin saw Inter progress to the knockout rounds as group winners at the end of June; bringing up four wins on the spin in all competitions.
They have since been drawn against Argentinian giants River Plate, who beat Fluminense in their final Group D game, but with both Flu and Palmeiras on the Brasileiro fixture schedule over the next fortnight, Menezes will not be taking his eye off the ball.
Having just brought World Cup star Enner Valencia to Porto Alegre, the veteran coach can now remedy a lack of firepower which has seen Inter average just a goal per game in the league this season, en route to winning only two of seven away games so far.
Team News
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New arrivals Yony Gonzalez, Leo Fernandez, Danielzinho and Diogo Barbosa have all been training with Fluminense this week, but partly due to delays with documentation, only the former is likely to be involved on Sunday.
The latter has suffered a knee sprain since joining from Gremio, so ex-Real Madrid veteran Marcelo is set to continue at left-back; another pair of full-backs, Alexsander and Jorge, are both out injured longer term.
After being consigned to the bench last time out, Paulo Henrique Ganso will hope for promotion to the hosts' starting XI after Flu coach Fernando Diniz spoke of the playmaker potentially teaming up with Neymar for Brazil. The suspension of Colombian winger Jhon Arias may aid his cause of featuring at the Maracana.
Inter, meanwhile, must travel to Rio without captain Alan Patrick, who serves a one-match ban; Gustavo Campanharo, Carlos de Pena and Jean Dias will all compete to deputise for the attacking midfielder.
As Luiz Adriano has been laid low by an illness over the past few days, Ecuador star Enner Valencia could make his debut up front, having completed a move from Fenerbahce last month.
Nicolas Hernandez is now available after serving a ban and should start in defence, but Pedro Henrique remains out of action due to a thigh problem.
Fluminense possible starting lineup:
Fabio; Xavier, Melo, Santos, Marcelo; Lima, Martinelli; Keno, Ganso, Lele; Cano
Internacional possible starting lineup:
John; Bustos, Hernandez, Mercado, Rene; Romulo, Cardoso; Mauricio, De Pena, Wanderson; Valencia
We say: Fluminense 1-2 Internacional
Perhaps distracted by events surrounding their manager this week, Fluminense could now suffer damaging back-to-back defeats. The hosts' new signings could take time to settle, too, so Internacional are set to improve their modest away record and surpass Flu in the standings.
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Top tip
Jonathan O'Shea
