Cuiaba will be hoping to extend their current unbeaten run in Brasileiro when they take on Botafogo at Arena Pantanal on Wednesday night.
The hosts have got themselves to 14th place in the league standings with 13 points in as many matches, while the visitors are second with 24 points over the same period.
Match preview
© Reuters
Cuiaba experienced a dismal start to the 2024 top-flight season, losing each of their first five matches, while only managing to earn their first victory of the campaign in gameweek seven against Criciuma.
Since then, Dourado have had a significant upturn in form, suffering only one defeat in their last six league matches. They will enter this week's encounter unbeaten in their last five games, including two wins and three consecutive draws.
The club appointed Petit as their permanent manager at the start of May and all of the team's points have come since his arrival; Cuiaba currently possess the longest active unbeaten streak in the division.
Additionally, under the Frenchman's guidance, Dourado have only conceded one home defeat in five matches, are unbeaten in their last four, and also maintained three clean sheets in that time.
While the hosts have finished behind this opponent in the last two seasons, they have been the dominant side in this fixture, winning three of the last four encounters, including a 1-0 victory in the most recent matchup back in October last year.
© Reuters
Meanwhile, Botafogo have made an impressive start to the season and they will be able to draw level with league leaders Flamengo if they win here, with Mengao fixtured to play Atletico Mineiro later in the day.
Fogo are also enjoying success on the continental stage, having qualified for the round of 16 by finishing second in their Copa Libertadores group, and they are now set to face Palmeiras in the first leg of the knockouts on July 16.
The club brought in former Braga manager Artur Jorge at the start of the season and the Portuguese tactician has lost just three league games to date and just one in the last eight matches.
Estrela Solitaria are now going for a third match without defeat following a come-from-behind 2-1 win over RB Bragantino and a somewhat disappointing 1-1 draw against 16th-placed Vasco da Gama.
Botafogo have earned a total of 11 points from seven matches on the road this season, which is the fourth-best record in the top flight; they also beat Wednesday's opponents 1-0 at this venue last season.
Team News
© Reuters
Cuiaba will have to make do without the services of Luciano Gimenez, who will be serving the first of his three-match suspension for the red card he was shown against Bragantino in midweek.
In terms of injuries, Max Alves is set to remain sidelined for at least a couple of weeks with a calf injury, while Deyverson is flagged as a doubt due to a knock.
Botafogo are missing several players heading into this match, starting with attacker Jefferson Savarino, who is currently away with Venezuela at the ongoing Copa America.
Tche Tche (shin), Jeffinho (knee) and Rafael da Silva (knee) are all ruled out through injury, while Pablo is questionable and will need to pass a fitness test ahead of this one.
Cuiaba possible starting lineup:
Walter; Ramon, Alves, Marllon, Alexandre; Denilson, Mineiro, Augusto; Railan, Pitta, Lacerda
Botafogo possible starting lineup:
Victor; Suarez, Halter, Bastos, Cuiabano; Gregore, Freitas; Henrique, Eduardo, Carreiro; Soares
We say: Cuiaba 1-1 Botafogo
While Botafogo are enjoying an impressive season, Cuiaba have proven to be a difficult team to beat in recent weeks, particularly at home where they are looking to extend their unbeaten run to five in a row.
This should be a close encounter and we feel it will end level at the final whistle.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
