Fortaleza can temporarily reclaim second place in the Brasileiro Serie A with a victory on Wednesday versus Atletico Mineiro at Castelao.
Before the international break, Leao do Pici dropped to third, losing 3-1 to Gremio, while Mineiro are ninth following a 2-1 victory against that same Gremio side last Wednesday.
Match preview
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Some poor results away from home have seen Fortaleza lose control of the league, claiming just one point from their previous four domestic games as the visitors.
That has dropped them down from first to third, though they can move above Palmeiras in the table on Wednesday and within two points of the league leaders Botafogo by claiming maximum points in midweek.
Juan Pablo Vojvoda's men have yet to lose a home game in the Brazilian top flight this year, winning 12 successive domestic encounters in Ceara.
With a defeat on Wednesday, Fortaleza would equal their longest losing run in the competition this year (two) and suffer their first domestic home defeat since November 2023 (2-0 versus Flamengo).
They have maintained a clean sheet in four of their previous five league matches played at Castelao and have not conceded more than one goal at home in Serie A this year.
Clube da Garotada are unbeaten in their last two Brasileiro home fixtures against Atletico, hanging onto a narrow 2-1 triumph in this exact fixture in 2023.
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Since late September, Mineiro have slowly inched back up the table, losing just one of their previous four domestic encounters (2-1 to Palmeiras).
Gabriel Milito, however, has seen his side lose their last two away matches in this competition while winning just one of their previous seven Serie A encounters as the visitors.
So far this season, Atletico Mineiro have yet to win consecutive league games, something that will end should they defeat Sao Paulo.
In 2024, they have not lost a league contest when drawing first blood, dropping points in only three instances when doing so in Serie A this season.
Their 40 points after 28 domestic encounters are three fewer than they accumulated at this same stage of the 2023 league campaign.
Galo are unbeaten in seven of their last eight meetings with Fortaleza but have not beaten them domestically at Castelao since 2021 (2-0).
Team News
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Lucas Sasha is doubtful for Fortaleza in midweek as he is still dealing with a calf injury, while Benjamin Kuscevic and Eros Mancuso are both suspended.
Hercules netted three minutes after Gremio had taken the lead, but it was all Leao do Pici could manage offensively in their previous defeat.
Matias Zaracho (hernia) is one of the many Mineiro players currently on the injured list, with the others being Bernard (knee), Guilherme Arana (thigh), Cadu (knee), Paulinho (knock) and Rubens (thigh).
Eduardo Vargas, Alan Franco and Junior Alonso were all away for the international break, and it is unclear if they will return in time for this game, while Lyanco, Deyverson and Hulk will be suspended.
In their previous encounter, Hulk and Deyverson made the difference for Atletico, netting their 10th and third respectively in Serie A this season.
Fortaleza possible starting lineup:
Ricardo; Tinga, Kuscevic, Cardona, Pacheco; Calebe, Welison; Pochettino, Hercules, Lopes; Lucero
Atletico Mineiro possible starting lineup:
Mendes; Saravia, Battaglia, Fuchs; Scarpa, Vera, Otavio, Rubens; Palacios, Kardec, Gomes
We say: Fortaleza 2-0 Atletico Mineiro
Fortaleza always seem to get the job done at home, and their opponents will be without two of their biggest attacking weapons in Hulk and Deyverson, which should make life a lot easier for the home team.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
