Two Brasileiro teams languishing in the bottom half of the table do battle at the Neo Quimica Arena on Saturday as Corinthians play host to Cuiaba.
While the hosts are seeking to avoid a third successive defeat in all competitions, the visitors are hoping to win their third consecutive match on the road.
Match preview
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After securing a top-four finish in the Brasileiro last season, seven-time champions Corinthians have endured a disappointing start to the 2023 campaign, winning just two of their opening nine league fixtures.
Timao currently sit 16th in the top-flight standings, just one point above the relegation zone, while they already find themselves eight points behind the Copa Liberatores qualification spots, albeit at such an early stage.
Corinthians suffered a 2-0 loss away at fellow strugglers America Mineiro in their most recent league match last weekend, and they were unable to turn their fortunes around in the Copa Libertadores on Wednesday as they were condemned to a comprehensive 3-0 defeat at Independiente del Valle, a result that confirmed their elimination from the competition at the group stage with a game to spare.
Vanderlei Luxemburgo is yet to make the desired impact in his third spell as Corinthians boss since taking the reins last month, and the 71-year-old's side can ill-afford to drop any more points considering that tricky fixtures against Athletico Paranaense, Bragantino and Atletico Mineiro are on the horizon.
Corinthians can enter Saturday's game with optimism as the have put together a four-game unbeaten run on soil, while they have won their previous two home meetings with Cuiaba, including a 2-0 success in October.
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Cuiaba extended their unbeaten league run to three games courtesy of a slender 1-0 victory away against Goias last weekend, with Deyverson netting his seventh goal of the campaign to secure maximum points.
Antonio Oliveira's side have turned a corner in recent weeks following a rocky start to the season, and they now find themselves sitting 14th in the Brasileiro table, two places and three points above Saturday's opponents Corinthians.
Dourado have in fact bettered their best-ever start to a Brasileiro campaign since securing promotion to the top flight for the first time in 2021, with nine of their 11 points accumulated away from home.
Cuiaba could climb into the top half of the table with a victory on Saturday, although claiming all three points may prove challenging having lost three of their previous four league meetings with Corinthians – a 1-0 home win in August 2022 being the only time they have celebrated success against Timao.
Team News
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Corinthians midfielder Paulinho – formerly of Barcelona and Tottenham Hotspur – is facing several months on the sidelines with a cruciate ligament injury and is joined in the treatment room by Gustavo Mosquito (knee) and Victor Cantillo (thigh).
Guilherme Biro returned to the matchday squad in midweek and came on as a second-half substitute after representing Brazil at the Under-20s World Cup, but compatriot Giovane, who was also on international duty, was not involved last time out and it remains to be seen if he will feature on Saturday.
Star attacker Roger Guedes has scored 19 goals in 31 matches across all competitions so far this year, including six strikes in nine Brasileiro games, and the 26-year-old is expected to start up front alongside Yuri Alberto.
As for Cuiaba, left-back Uendel is sidelined with a long-term ACL problem, while Joao Maranini, Patric Calmon (both knee) and Filipe Augusto (thigh) are also nursing injuries.
Isidro Pitta will be hoping to force his way back into the starting lineup, although Deyverson will likely continue as the central striker after scoring the decisive goal in last weekend's victory.
Matheusinho could be recalled at right-back at the expense of Matheus Alexandre, joining Marllon, Alan Empereur and Rikelme in the back four, while Ronald may get the nod in centre-midfield ahead of either Raniele or Denilson.
Corinthians possible starting lineup:
Cassio; Mendez, Gil, Murillo; Fagner, Maycon, Vera, Adson, Bidu; Guedes, Alberto
Cuiaba possible starting lineup:
Walter; Matheusinho, Empereur, Marllon, Rikelme; Denilson, Ronald; Cafu, Sobral, Silva; Deyverson
We say: Corinthians 1-1 Cuiaba
Cuiaba will fancy their chances of beating an out-of-sorts Corinthians outfit considering their upturn in form, particularly away from home.
However, the hosts will welcome a return to the Neo Quimica Arena where they are unbeaten in each of their last four games, and we can see the spoils being shared in a low-scoring affair on Saturday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Oliver Thomas
