Two underperforming giants clash in the Campeonato Brasileiro on Thursday, as Internacional host struggling Sao Paulo in Porto Alegre.
After disappointing starts to their Serie A campaigns, Inter sit 14th in the standings, while their visitors are mired in the relegation zone.
Match preview
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Following last weekend's 1-1 draw at Corinthians, an Internacional side still searching for their first home win of the season have now claimed eight of their modest ten-point tally so far on the road.
In their last fixture at Estadio Beira-Rio, a 2-1 defeat against 10-man Palmeiras last Wednesday continued their winless run on home territory, so this week Inter will be intent on breaking their duck.
They conceded a late equaliser to former Brazil international Jo on Sunday; cancelling out Edenilson's first-half penalty, which had given them the lead. With that 80th-minute strike, the one-time Manchester City striker denied Diego Aguirre's side three precious points, as they continue to toil in the bottom half of the table after nine games.
Inter have started to slip further down the standings after a run of just two points from their last three outings, having now leaked crucial late goals in each of their two most recent games.
Head coach Aguirre recently took over following the sacking of Miguel Angel Ramirez, and clearly has his work cut out to pull his new side clear of the basement battle and into the upper echelons of Serie A.
To do so, the Uruguayan coach will need to lean heavily on star striker Yuri Alberto, who is currently on a three-match barren run but previously drew the interest of major European clubs as a teenager. Now, the Brazil Under-23 international will aim to attract more suitors by embarking on a much-needed goalscoring run - with his next chance coming on Thursday.
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Another defeat at the weekend continued Sao Paulo's underwhelming start to the 2021 season, leaving them lingering in the Serie A drop zone and still looking to record their first win after nine league matches.
Former Argentina striker Hernan Crespo took charge of his new team in February, after modest spells as a manager in his homeland and in Italy, where he spent most of his playing days.
Though Crespo led Sao Paulo to the regional Campeonato Paulista title in May - their first such triumph in eight years - they now sit 17th in the table with just five points so far. That leaves them just three above basement side Gremio, who have played two games fewer.
Three consecutive draws since losing the San-Sao derby to old rivals Santos last month were quickly followed by Sunday's reverse at home to early leaders Bragantino, to deflate hopes of a revival. Even taking the lead through Emiliano Rigoni's first-half strike was not enough to secure even a point, as the Tricolor Paulista conceded twice in the second period to slump to a fifth loss of the campaign.
A mediocre tally of just five league goals so far this term is an indicator of where their most obvious deficiency lies, so a legendary goalscorer such as Crespo will need to work overtime with his misfiring forwards if he is to help his side to an away win on Thursday.
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Team News
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Internacional manager Diego Aguirre is expected to be without defender Ze Gabriel, veteran Peru striker Paolo Guerrero, centre-back Rodrigo Moledo and full-back Moises on Thursday, while there remain doubts over Taison's availability too, as the Brazil international has a muscular injury.
Defender Lucas Ribeiro served a one-game suspension last week and only made it on as a substitute on Sunday, so will now expect to contend for a place alongside Victor Cuesta at the heart of the Inter defence. USA international Johnny Cardoso is another who featured from the bench last time out and is in competition with Edenilson for a start.
Hernan Crespo, meanwhile, is dealing with several injuries himself - including to Gabriel Sara, William da Silva and cruciate ligament victim Walce, but does have a well-stocked squad to compensate.
Former Barcelona right-back Dani Alves recently returned from an injury layoff and has been deployed both out wide and as a central midfielder since signing for Sao Paulo, but should start on the right flank in Crespo's preferred 3-5-2.
Ex-Italy international Eder is expected to keep his place up front despite having only netted one goal in nine league outings to date, with Martin Benitez and Sunday's goalscorer Emiliano Rigoni providing support.
In defence, meanwhile, veteran Portugal defender Bruno Alves and his similarly experienced colleague Miranda - once of Atletico Madrid - will feature in the Tricolor's back three.
Internacional possible starting lineup:
Daniel; Saravia, Santana, V. Cuesta, Heitor; Edenilson, Dourado; J. Cuesta, Vidal, Patrick; Alberto
Sao Paulo possible starting lineup:
Volpi; Leo, B. Alves, Miranda; D. Alves, Welington, Liziero, Gomes, Rigoni; Eder, Benitez
We say: Internacional 2-1 Sao Paulo
Inter must take advantage of Sao Paulo's current malaise this week, as they have made a stuttering start themselves and need to make up ground lost on the clubs above them in the table.
Traditionally one of Brazil's superclubs, the visitors have made a listless start to the season, which shows no sign of slowing due to a lack of final-third potency - they will have to wait a little longer for their first league win.
Top tip
Jonathan O'Shea
Data Analysis
Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Internacional win with a probability of 42.14%. A win for Sao Paulo had a probability of 30.13% and a draw had a probability of 27.7%.
The most likely scoreline for a Internacional win was 1-0 with a probability of 12.37%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 2-1 (8.45%) and 2-0 (8.03%). The likeliest Sao Paulo win was 0-1 (10.02%), while for a drawn scoreline it was 1-1 (13.02%). The actual scoreline of 0-2 was predicted with a 5.3% likelihood.
