Two sides seeking to return to winning ways in Brasileiro will face off this weekend when Palmeiras head to Estadio Jose Pinheiro Borda to take on Internacional.
The hosts are currently on 20 points and in 14th place in the league standings, while the defending champions are third with 36 points earned over the first half of the season.
Match preview
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Internacional began the 2024 season very positively, notching up wins in their first two games, including against their upcoming opponents, but they have struggled to find the same type of rhythm since the floods in Rio Grande do Sul halted their progress.
Since resuming league action at the start of June, Colorado have managed only three wins in 11 top-flight matches, and enter this weekend's fixture winless in their last six, including three draws and three losses.
Roger Machado, who arrived at the club from Juventude to replace Eduardo Coudet last month, has managed to earn just one point in his first three games in charge, which came last weekend when his side salvaged a late draw away to Bahia.
That result took the Reds two points clear of Vitoria, who are the first side below the dotted line, although they have only played 15 games to date, three fewer than Gremio and five less than the likes of Os Conquistadores and Corinthians below them.
At home this season, Internacional took eight points and were unbeaten in their first four games but are now aiming to avoid a third consecutive defeat following 2-1 losses to Atletico Mineiro and Vasco da Gama at the start of July.
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Meanwhile, it has not been smooth sailing for the back-to-back league champions lately either, as they prepare for this match after going 2-0 down in their Copa do Brasil tie against Flamengo in midweek.
That result followed consecutive defeats to relegation candidates Fluminense and Vitoria last month, marking the first time that the club has gone three consecutive matches without scoring in any competition since April 2019.
Those defeats also saw Verdao slip to third place in the league standings, now four points behind the current leaders Flamengo, who also have a game in hand on the rest of the chasing pack.
Additionally, after going unbeaten in their first five away games this season, during which they took 13 from a possible 15 points, Abel Ferreira's side are now winless in their last four on the road, losing three and drawing the other.
While it is not time to panic just yet, the visitors will know they need to find their form again soon to remain within striking distance of the top two, or they could leave themselves with a mountain to climb in the closing stages of the season.
Team News
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Internacional's already lengthy casualty list was added to last week and is now up to seven absentees with Thiago Maia ruled out for this match after picking up a muscle injury.
He is now set to join the likes of Lucca, Alan Patrick, Wanderson, Fernando and Ivan on the sidelines. Midfielder Vitao has missed the Reds last six matches but could return to the squad this weekend.
Palmeiras, meanwhile, will have to make do without the services of forward Raphael Veiga, who crossed the yellow card threshold last time out, and will be forced into a watching brief for this match.
In terms of absentees, Estevao and Bruno Rodrigues are ruled out with an ankle and knee injury respectively, while Joaquin Piquerez is out for the season having undergone surgery on his knee.
Internacional possible starting lineup:
Rochet; Bustos, Renan, Mercado, Bernabei; Gomes, Carvalho, Henrique; Borre, Valencia, Wesley
Palmeiras possible starting lineup:
Weverton; Mayke, Reis, Gomez, Vanderlan; Moreno, Menino; Anderson, Mauricio, Dudu; Lopez
We say: Internacional 1-1 Palmeiras
Both these sides are desperately looking to get back in the win column, but given their recent form, it is difficult to make a convincing case for either to secure the points here. Given their recent records, we feel they will be fairly content settling for a point apiece in this one.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Devesh Jaganath
