Athletico Paranaense will be out to extend their strong run of form in the Brasileiro when they travel to face Coritiba at the Estadio Couto Pereira on Sunday.
Whilst the visitors are enjoying a resurgence under their new boss in recent weeks, the hosts have slid down the table after struggling of late.
Match preview
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After recording seven points from their opening four games of the 2022 Brasileiro campaign against the likes of Santos, Atletico Mineiro and Fluminense, Coritiba have fallen out of form across the past month or so.
Gustavo Morinigo's side have fallen down to 12th place ahead of matchday 13 as a result, although it remains a respectable position following their promotion to the top flight last season.
A 4-2 defeat at Bragantino on Wednesday evening was the latest of Coritiba's setbacks, during which they were outclassed by a superior opponent for large parts of the encounter, particularly during the first half, in which they found themselves 3-0 down inside the opening 36 minutes.
Morinigo's men never recovered from their slow start, and as a result, they have now suffered successive defeats in a four-game winless spell overall, as the momentum from the joys of winning promotion is now well and truly in the past.
However, Sunday's hosts do possess the joint-second best home record in the division ahead of the welcoming of Paranaense, with the only defeat suffered at the Estadio Couto Pereira coming last time out there against early runaway leaders Palmeiras.
Therefore, with the home faithful behind them, Coritiba will still possess plenty of confidence in returning to winning ways against an in-form opponent when they take to the field.
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As for the visitors, their form has certainly been the reverse of their hosts on Sunday, with a slow start being turned into an excellent run of form ahead of matchday 13.
Fabio Carille was sacked following a 5-0 defeat to The Strongest in the Copa Libertadores back at the beginning of May, despite being in the job for just several weeks.
The 48-year-old was replaced by the experienced Luiz Felipe Scolari, the former Brazil and Chelsea boss, amongst many others, and the veteran has overseen a dramatic turnaround in fortunes.
Since taking charge, the 73-year-old has recorded seven wins and just one defeat during 11 games at the helm so far, a record that has seen Paranaense recover to progress to the next stage of the Copa Libertadores, as well as climb to fourth in the Brasileiro.
Sunday's visitors have been held to back-to-back draws prior to the trip to Coritiba however, with a disappointing goalless draw with bottom-of-the-table Fortaleza last weekend being followed by a 1-1 result with second-placed Corinthians in midweek.
Wednesday's draw was hardly a disaster, and Scolari's men were perhaps unfortunate not to take all three points after attempting 21 shots on their opponent's goal, whilst the result means that they go into the Coritiba clash on the back of an eight-game unbeaten run, and although three points could prove difficult at the Estadio Couto Pereira, Paranaense look on course to pick up at least a point after proving to be hugely difficult to beat of late.
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Team News
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Coritiba will be without at least a quartet of players once again on Sunday, with Matheus Alexandre, Willian Farias, Leo Gamalho and Andrey all remaining on the sidelines through injury, although Anderson does return from a one-match suspension.
After such a dreadful first half in midweek, Morinigo made four changes at half time against Bragantino, and as a result, it is highly unlikely that he will be naming the same starting 11 here.
Adrian Martinez bagged himself a goal off the bench, whilst Igor Paixao also impressed with a goal of his own during the second 45, so both will be pushing for starts against Paranaense as a result.
As for the visitors, Hugo Moura's red card against Corinthians in midweek means that the midfielder will sit out of the trip to Coritiba courtesy of a one-match suspension.
Leo Cittadini and Pablo Siles are candidates to deputise at the base of the midfield, whilst 17-year-old Vitor Roque could potentially earn his first start of the Brasileiro campaign in place of the injured Pablo.
The latter was forced off with a knock on Wednesday, and he could potentially join Thiago Heleno, Agustin Canobbio and Marlos on the sidelines.
Coritiba possible starting lineup:
Muralha; Natanael, Henrique, Castan, Porfirio; Bernardo, Galarza; Manga, Regis, Paixao; Martinez
Athletico Paranaense possible starting lineup:
Bento; Khellven, Henrique, Hernandez, Vinicius; Fernandes, Cittadini; Cuello, Terans, Vitinho; Roque
We say: Coritiba 1-1 Athletico Paranaense
With Coritiba being an excellent outfit on home soil, and the visitors being in such fine form of late, this is likely to be a tight game of football at the Estadio Couto Pereira.
Paranaense are a hugely difficult side to beat under Scolari, and with the hosts not hitting top gear in recent weeks, we can see the two sides cancelling each other out and sharing the points.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Matthew Tranter
