Seeking to climb into the top four of the Brasileiro, Fortaleza play host to Cuiaba at the Estadio Castelao on Sunday.
While the hosts are yet to lose on home soil for nearly 10 months, the visitors are hoping to avoid a third successive away game without a win.
Match preview
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Fortaleza managed to bounce back from a 2-0 away loss to Flamengo by securing a slender 1-0 home win over Athletico Paranaense last weekend.
The contest was level until the 84th minute when substitute Yago Pikachu netted the match-winner to help Juan Pablo Vojvoda's side record their fourth league win in five matches across all competitions.
The Lion of the Pici have now kept seven clean sheets in their first 14 Brasileiro games this season and have conceded just 11 goals in total; only league leaders Botafogo (seven) have conceded fewer at this stage.
Sitting in seventh spot with 23 points, Fortaleza will be motivated by the prospect of ending the weekend as high as second place in the top-flight standings should they win on Sunday. Indeed, Vodvoda and co are sure to keep an eye on the result between second-placed Flamengo and fourth-placed Fluminense this weekend.
Fortaleza enter Sunday's clash boasting an impressive home record as they are unbeaten in 13 games at the Estadio Castelao across all tournaments, winning 10 and drawing three during this run as well as keeping six clean sheets in the process. The Lion of the Pici have also lost just two of their 25 home matches in 2023.
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After securing an impressive 3-0 home win over Santos, Cuiaba were forced to settle for a 1-1 home draw with Bahia last Saturday.
Deyverson converted from the penalty spot on the 18-minute mark to open the scoring and increase his goal tally for the season to 10 in all competitions, but Bahia restored parity six minutes after half time courtesy of an own goal from Alan Empereur.
Antonio Oliveira's side, who narrowly avoided relegation from the Brazilian top flight last season, currently sit 14th in the table this term, five points above the drop zone.
Cuiaba have fared slightly better away from home so far this season as they have picked up just six points from seven home matches compared to 10 points accumulated in seven games on the road; seven of those 10 away points have been claimed in their last four fixtures on their travels.
The Dourado can head into Sunday's clash with optimism of securing another positive result as they are unbeaten in each of their last four visits to Fortaleza, including a 1-0 win in their last match at the Estadio Castelao in April last year.
Team News
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Fortaleza's only injury absentee is winger Pedro Rocha, who is yet to make a single league appearance this season after rupturing a knee ligament.
After netting the match-winner last time out, Pikachu will be hoping to force his way back into the first XI and could replace Marinho at right wing-back.
Juan Martin Lucero and Thiago Galhardo have scored 29 goals between them in all competitions this term and the attacking duo are expected to resume their partnership up front on Sunday.
As for Cuiaba, left-back Uendel made his first appearance of the season as a second-half substitute against Bahia after recovering from a ruptured knee ligament, and the 34-year-old will likely begin on the bench again on Sunday as Oliveira looks to slowly integrate him back into the first-team fold.
Rikelme is therefore set to continue at left-back, joining Alan Empereur, Marllon and Matheus Alexandre in the back four, with Walter retaining his place between the sticks.
Top scorer Deyverson has found the net five times in his last seven league appearances and is expected to continue as the central striker between wingers Jonathan Cafu and either Iury Castilho or Wellington Silva.
Fortaleza possible starting lineup:
Ricardo; Britez, Benevenuto, Titi; Pikachu, Alexandre, Hercules, Pacheco; Pochettino; Galhardo, Lucero
Cuiaba possible starting lineup:
Walter; Alexandre, Marllon, Empereur, Rikelme; Cepellini, Denilson, Raniele; Cafu, Deyverson, Silva
We say: Fortaleza 2-1 Cuiaba
There is little to separate these two teams at present, although Fortaleza will be regarded as slight favourites to come out on top on home soil.
Cuiaba will fancy their chances of grinding out a positive result on their travels, but we believe that Fortaleza will prevail to boost their top-four hopes.
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