Seeking to extend their unbeaten Brasileiro run to five matches, Cuiaba welcome league leaders Botafogo to Arena Pantanal on Friday.
The visitors, meanwhile, are looking to put aside a recent dip in form across all tournaments and consolidate their position at the top-flight summit.
Match preview
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Just over a month ago, Cuiaba were languishing inside the relegation zone after picking up just four points from their opening six games, and another campaign towards the bottom half of the table seemed to be on the cards.
However, Antonio Oliveira's side have shown signs of improvement in recent weeks as they have accumulated eight points from their last four matches, climbing up to 14th place in the Brasileiro standings, and a victory on Friday could see them move into the top half of the table.
Cuiaba have collected seven of their last eight points on the road, with back-to-back 1-0 away wins over Cruzeiro and Goias followed by a 1-1 draw at Corinthians last Saturday – a game which saw Deyverson's opener cancelled out just nine minutes from time by Ruan Oliveira.
Dourado return to Arena Pantanal where they are still searching for their first home league win of the season; only Vasco da Gama (one) have picked up fewer home points than Oliveira's men (two) so far this term.
Cuiaba can be confident of opening their account on home soil on Friday, though, as they won both home and away fixtures by a 2-0 scoreline against Botafogo last season.
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Twenty-eight years on from lifting their last Brazilian top-flight title, Botafogo sit at the summit of the Brasileiro table after winning eight of their opening 10 matches – accumulating twice as many points (24) as they had at this stage last season (12).
No team have conceded fewer league goals than Fogo (seven) so far this season, while only second-placed Palmeiras (22) and third-placed Flamengo (21) have scored more than Luis Castro's side (18).
Botafogo secured a 2-0 home success over Fortaleza on Sunday courtesy of a brace from Tiquinho and that result ended a three-game winless run in all competitions in which back-to-back 1-0 defeats to Athletico Paranaense were followed by a goalless draw with LDU Quito in their penultimate Copa Sudamericana group-stage match two weeks ago.
While Castro and co are sure to have one eye on their important Copa Sudamericana clash with Magallanes at the end of this month, their focus must remain with the Brasileiro where they will endeavour to retain their position at the top of the table with positive results over Cuiaba and Palmeiras within the space of just three days.
Twelve points and 13 places currently separate both Botafogo and Cuiaba in the top-flight standings, but the former cannot take their upcoming opponents lightly as they have failed to win each of their last four meetings with Dourado. Fogo have also won just one of their last five away games in all tournaments, failing to score in their last two.
Team News
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Cuiaba are still without long-term absentee Uendel who is recovering from an ACL injury, while fellow left-back Patric Calmon is also ruled out with a knee problem.
Deyverson has scored three goals in his last four matches and he is expected to lead the line once again, with support set to be provided by former Arsenal winger Wellington Silva and either Emerson Negueba or Nicolas Quagliata.
As for Botafogo, Patrick de Paula is out for the rest of the season with a serious knee injury, while Fernando Marcal (knee), Danilo Barbosa (thigh) and Gabriel Pires (calf) are also nursing injuries.
Former Manchester United right-back Rafael Da Silva could continue in the back four alongside Adryelson, Victor Cuesta and Hugo, protecting goalkeeper Lucas Perri.
Marlon Freitas and Tche Tche will likely continue in centre-midfield, just behind Carlos Eduardo in the number 10 role, while wingers Junior Santos and Luis Henrique are expected to provide support in attack for Tiquinho, who is the top scorer in the Brasileiro so far this season with eight goals in nine games.
Cuiaba possible starting lineup:
Walter; Alexandre, Allyson, Empereur, Rikelme; Denilson, Ronald; Quagliata, Sobral, Silva; Deyverson
Botafogo possible starting lineup:
Perri; Rafael, Adryelson, Cuesta, Hugo; Freitas, Tche Tche; Santos, Eduardo, Henrique; Tiquinho
We say: Cuiaba 1-2 Botafogo
Cuiaba's positive run of form and recent head-to-head record against Botafogo bodes well heading into Friday's fixture, and they will fancy their chances of causing an upset on home soil.
However, Botafogo can call upon talisman Tiquinho to provide the goods once again up front, and the visitors should do enough to claim maximum points in a closely-fought contest.
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Top tip
Oliver Thomas
