Internacional will be looking to return to winning ways in Brasileiro when they face off against Vasco da Gama at Estadio Jose Pinheiro Borda on Sunday night.
The hosts are currently in 10th place in the league standings with 19 points after 12 games, while the visitors are 14th with 14 points in as many league games.
Match preview
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Internacional have made a steady start to the season, recording five wins, four draws and three losses to date, and a win this weekend could see them move up to seventh place provided results elsewhere go in their favour.
The Reds will be returning to Porto Alegre this week following back-to-back 1-1 draws on the road to Criciuma and Fluminense, which came after suffering their first home loss of the campaign to Atletico Mineiro at the end of last month.
While Eduardo Coudet's side have played two games fewer than the majority of the top-flight teams this season, it is clear their major area of improvement is in attack, having only scored 11 goals so far, which is the joint-fewest in the division.
However, they have balanced their poor goal-scoring form with impeccable defensive performances, conceding only nine goals so far, also the fewest of any team in the top flight this term.
Internacional have been the dominant team in this fixture in recent years, winning each of the last four encounters between these sides dating back to October 2020, outscoring them 8-2 in that time.
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Meanwhile, Vasco da Gama secured a much-needed 2-0 win against Fortaleza last week to open up a little bit of daylight between themselves and the bottom four, now three points clear of the drop.
Mateus Carvalho gave Cruzmaltino the lead just moments after O Tricolor were reduced to 10 men in the first half, and Pablo Vegetti secured the points with the team's second of the day midway through the second period.
With that, Rafael Paiva has now earned seven points in his first four games, which is already a decent improvement from the four points the side managed in the preceding nine games up to June 23.
Notably, though, all four wins Vasco have managed this month have been at Estadio Sao Januario, while on the road Cruzmaltino are yet to earn a single point, losing all six outings to date.
Team News
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Internacional have a number of injuries coming into the match, including long-term absentees Ivan and Mauricio, although the former is believed to be nearing a return to action after missing the last five months with a cruciate ligament injury.
Thiago Maia, Wesley and Lucca are expected to remain sidelined for the rest of this month, while Vitao, Charles Aranguiz and Fabricio Bustos are flagged as doubts.
For the visitors, midfielders Guilherme Estrella, and Paulinho Paula are ruled out for at least the next two weeks with knee injuries, while Joao Victor is expected to be on the treatment table until August, also with an injured knee.
Former West Ham United attacker Dimitri Payet lasted only 14 minutes in midweek before he was withdrawn with a knock and is a major doubt for this weekend.
Internacional possible starting lineup:
Fabricio; Gomes, Fernando, Renan, Rene; Romulo, Henrique, Alves, Patrick, Wanderson; Alario
Vasco da Gama possible starting lineup:
Jardim; Piton, Leo, Maicon, Henrique; Cocao, Moura, Luis; Adson, David; Vegetti
We say: Internacional 1-0 Vasco da Gama
While Vasco da Gama have seen an improvement in results in the last three games, all 14 points they have earned this season have come on their home patch. They have suffered six losses in a row on the road and have only scored once in their last five outings.
Internacional have certainly not set the league alight this season, but their home form has been solid and their record in this fixture is hard to overlook. We feel the hosts will secure the points in this one.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Devesh Jaganath
