Corinthians will be seeking to pick up their first away win of the Brasileiro Serie A campaign when they journey to the Estadio Sao Januario to take on Vasco da Gama on Wednesday.
Having failed to win any of the last 20 meetings between the two sides, the Gigante da Colina will head into the midweek clash looking to get one over the visitors and make it three consecutive victories.
Match preview
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Vasco da Gama continue their push into the top half of the Serie A standings as they secured a 2-1 victory over Internacional when the sides squared off at the Estadio Jose Pinheiro Borda on Sunday.
Following a relatively uneventful first half, the game sparked into life shortly after the hour mark as Adson broke the deadlock to put the visitors in front, and after Lyncon doubled the lead in the 72nd, Fabricio Bustos pulled one back for Internacional in the 80th minute.
Having secured a 2-0 victory over 10-man Fortaleza three days earlier, Vasco da Gama have now picked up back-to-back league wins for the first time since November, when they beat Cuiaba, Botafogo and America Mineiro.
Rafael Paiva's men now return home, where they are on a four-game unbeaten run, picking up two wins and two draws, and have lost just one of their last seven matches across all competitions since the start of May.
This solid run of results has seen the Gigante da Colina pull clear of the danger zone and also reach the fourth round of the Copa de Brasil courtesy of a penalty-shootout victory over Fortaleza on May 22.
Vasco da Gama have won five of their 15 Serie A matches this season while losing eight and claiming two draws to collect 17 points and sit 13th in the table, one point above 14th-placed Criciuma, who have two games in hand.
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Corinthians, on the other hand, were sent crashing back to earth on Sunday as they suffered a 3-0 thrashing against Cruzeiro when the sides squared off at the Minerao Stadium.
Fernando Seabra's men turned in a clinic in front of goal as Matheus Pereira, Alvaro Barreal and Gabriel Veron all found the back of the net to secure their seventh league win of the campaign.
For Corinthians, this was a far cry from last Friday's resilient display, when they secured a pulsating 3-2 victory over Vitoria at the Neo Quimica Arena to end their nine-game winless run in the league.
The defeat against Cruzeiro became the latest in the Timao's string of poor results on their travels as they remain one of just four sides yet to win a league game away from home this season, losing six and claiming two draws so far.
Having secured a 13th-placed finish in the Serie A last season, Corinthians currently find themselves languishing in the danger zone heading into the midway point of the campaign as they sit 17th in the table with just 12 points from 15 matches.
However, Raphael Laruccia's men will be backing themselves to begin their turnaround on Wednesday as they take on an opposing side against whom they are unbeaten in each of their previous 20 encounters, losing 12 and claiming eight draws since May 2009.
Team News
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Vasco da Gama will remain without several players down the spine of the team as the trio of Guilherme Estrella, Joao Victor and Paulinho Paula continue their spells on the sidelines.
Veteran forward Dimitri Payet missed the game against Internacional through a thigh injury and the former France international is also out of contention for the home side.
Payet netted two goals in 17 league appearances (seven starts) for Vasco da Gama last campaign but is yet to find the back of the net in his five games this season.
As for Corinthians, Laruccia will be unable to name Argentine midfielder Rodrigo Garro, who is currently suspended after crossing the yellow card threshold with his booking against Cruzeiro at the weekend.
On the injury front, the Timao remain without the services of Diego Palacios and 35-year-old defender Fagner, who are currently recuperating from knee and thigh injuries respectively.
First-choice goalkeeper Carlos Miguel is set to sit out his seventh consecutive game through an ankle injury, meaning that 22-year-old Matheus Donelli should start in goal once again.
Vasco da Gama possible starting lineup:
Jardim; Henrique, Rojas, Leo, Leandrinho; Sforza, Carvalho, JP; Adson, Vegetti, Rossi
Corinthians possible starting lineup:
Donelli; Matheuzinho, Torres, Caca, Farias; Raniele, Bidon, Garro; Romero, Alberto, Wesley
We say: Vasco da Gama 2-1 Corinthians
While past results between the sides favours Corinthians to come out on top, their struggles away from home offer little optimism heading into Wednesday. Vasco have been tough to crack at the Estadio Sao Januario in recent weeks, and given their new-found form, we are tipping them to secure all three points.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joshua Ojele
