A pair of relegation-threatened sides will square off in Brasileiro Serie A action on Saturday as Vitoria host Cuiaba from Estadio Manoel Barradas in Salvador.
Last weekend, Vitoria came away with a 2-0 triumph over Palmeiras, putting them a point above the club from Mato Grosso, who were beaten 2-1 by Athletico Paranaense.
Match preview
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After four successive close contests, where they failed to collect a single point, something good finally came the way of Leao da Barra in their previous outing.
Two second-half goals against the reigning two-time Brasileiro Serie A champions has them nearly out of the relegation zone, only behind Gremio on goal difference.
Throughout the domestic campaign, many of their matches have been there for the taking, but they have often come up empty, suffering seven defeats by a single goal.
Thiago Carpini's men have not scored in the opening half since early July, netting twice after 45 minutes versus Criciuma and winning 2-1.
Their previous three home contests in this competition all ended in defeat, with their last victory at Barradao occurring against Criciuma last month.
Saturday will be the first time they host Cuiaba in the Brazilian top flight, with their only home victory against them occurring during the 2020 Serie B campaign (4-2).
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Another side that know a thing or two about close games this year is Auriverde de Baixada, who suffered a second successive defeat by a single goal in their previous encounter.
During this domestic campaign, Petit's men have lost six times by just one goal, failing to score in half of those encounters.
This team began the 2024 Serie A season with successive away defeats, but they enter this game on a four-match unbeaten run as the visitors in this competition.
Cuiaba have scored in six of their previous seven league contests, a sharp contrast from what we saw in the early portion of the campaign when they failed to find the back of the net in their opening five fixtures.
After 18 matches, Cuiaba have accumulated a mere 17 points, 11 fewer than they had at this stage a year ago, as they sit a point below the relegation line.
They have only beaten Vitoria away from home once before, during the 2019 Serie B campaign (1-0), while the only Serie A meeting between them ended in a 0-0 draw.
Team News
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In their victory over Palmeiras, Vitoria were missing Camutanga, who is out for the season with a knee injury, Bruno Uvini was sidelined due to an unknown issue, Caio Vinicius has a sore thigh and Jean Mota is recovering from a muscle strain.
Jose Breno will be suspended for this match following his straight red card in the dying moment against Palestra and Lucas Esteves is out with a yellow card suspension.
A 52nd-minute strike by Osvaldo was all they would need to stun the crowd at Allianz Parque last week, with Matheuzinho netting an insurance marker seven minutes from the end.
Cuiaba could be without Derik Lacerda and Lucas Fernandes on Saturday as they are both dealing with muscle strains, while Filipe Augusto has an unknown injury.
There was one new face in their starting 11 against Paranaense from the team that began their Copa Sudamericana fixture versus Palestino with Jonathan Cafu replacing Lacerda.
Their only goal against El Paranaense came courtesy of Deyverson in the 96th minute, his first of the 2024 Brasileiro Serie A campaign, which ultimately proved to be too little too late.
Vitoria possible starting lineup:
Arcanjo; Lepu, Neris, Leonardo, Esteves; Ryller; Matheuzinho, Willian, Machado, Osvaldo; Janderson
Cuiaba possible starting lineup:
Walter; Alexandre, Marllon, Empereur, Ramon; Sobral, Denilson; Eliel, Alves, Pitta; Deyverson
We say: Vitoria 1-0 Cuiaba
Vitoria should be full of confidence given that they just upset Brazilian giants Palmeiras a few days after narrowly losing to the league-leaders Flamengo (2-1).
We believe they will carry that momentum into this contest against a Cuiaba side that have been inconsistent away from home this season.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
