Out-of-form Atletico Goianiense need a turnaround ahead of Wednesday's Brasileiro match against Vasco da Gama on Antonio Accioly.
Not even a managerial change has transformed the home side's results ahead of gameweek 17, with Dragao second-bottom in the table, and they hope to return to winning ways against a side on a three-match streak without dropping points.
Match preview
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Newly promoted Atletico Goianiense have not had the best starts on their return to the top division, underscored by their position and ongoing form.
Dragao have notched two wins after 16 games, a second-joint low in the competition and one more than bottom Fluminense, who sit three points below the Goias-based club.
The underwhelming start cost Jair Ventura his job, his caretaker replacement Anderson Gomes did not fare any better and Vagner Mancini could not inspire an upswing in his first match after his July 4 appointment.
The 19th-placed side have been beaten nine times in the league, only Fluminense (10) have lost more and their record at both ends — 14 goals in 16, 24 conceded — leaves much to be desired.
Dragao rank fifth-bottom for finding the back of the net and are statistically among the worst three sides at the back, highlighting the challenges at both ends.
Interestingly, their opponents on Wednesday have a worse defensive record after 16 matches, pointing to an area for the hosts to explore in the mid-week clash.
With 26 goals allowed heading into round 17, Vasco da Gama have let in more goals than anyone else in the competition, an average of 1.6 per game.
Nonetheless, it is not lost on anyone that Cruzmaltino have had a pleasing run lately, underscored by three wins on the trot against Fortaleza (2-0), Internacional (2-1) and Corinthians (2-0).
Further pleasing has been keeping clean sheets in two of those victories, seeing Rafael Paiva's men rise to 11th in the standings after securing 10 points from the last available 12.
The team's 2-1 win at Corinthians ended a six-game losing streak on their travels, and Vasco aim for consecutive road triumphs for the first time in the top division since October 2017 when they beat Avai (2-1) and, coincidentally, the side they face on Wednesday (1-0).
Team News
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While Derek Freitas misses out through suspension for his dismissal for violent conduct against Athletico Paranaense, Luiz Fernando returns from a one-match ban.
Pedro Henrique (thigh) and Gustavo Campanharo (knee) are expected to miss out because of their injury issues.
Having utilised a 5-4-1 against second-placed Palmeiras last time out, it remains to be seen if Mancini sticks to a back five or reverts to a four-player defence.
Dimitri Payet (thigh) is still absent for the away side, who are also without the services of Robert Rojas (head), Guilherme Estrella, Joao Victor and Paulinho, all of whom are nursing knee injuries.
While Pablo Vegetti scored in the draw against Botafogo and 2-0 triumph over Fortaleza the following week, Vasco have had five different goalscorers through this ongoing run, underlining the penchant for multiple match-winners for caretaker boss Paiva.
Atletico Goianiense possible starting lineup:
Romaldo; Tubarao, Adriano Martins, Vinicius, Marcao, Romao; Shaylon, Rhaldney, Kal, Fernando; Gonzalez
Vasco da Gama possible starting lineup:
Jardim; Henrique, Maicon, Leo, Piton; Moura, Carvalho; Adson, Praxedes, David; Vegetti
We say: Atletico Goianiense 1-1 Vasco da Gama
Given the managerial change in Goias, the home side are due a turnaround sooner rather than later, and they seek that against a team that had a wretched sequence of road results before that win at Internacional. Both clubs should cancel out the other in a 1-1 draw.
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