Palmeiras will look to strengthen their position at the top of the Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A table on Thursday, when they travel to take on strugglers America Mineiro.
The visitors currently sit two points ahead of second-placed Atletico Mineiro, while their hosts currently find themselves in the relegation zone following consecutive defeats.
Match preview
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After a relatively encouraging start to the season, America Mineiro have hit a particularly tough run of form in the last couple of months, picking up just four points from their last eight league outings.
Their slump began after a 2-1 win over Cuiaba, as the Coelho went on to suffer consecutive defeats at the hands of Ceara and Sao Paulo, before a goalless draw against Fluminense was followed by another pair of losses.
Vagner Mancini's side were able to briefly stop the rot with a 1-0 win over Goias, thanks to Henrique Almeida's goal, but then went on to lose by the same scoreline to Internacional before being dumped out of the Copa do Brasil at the round-of-16 stage following a 2-0 defeat to Botafogo after a 3-0 thrashing in the first leg.
Looking to correct their form and kickstart a rise out of the bottom four, the Coelho took on Bragantino last time out, but they were again comfortably beaten as Alerrandro hit a brace inside the first 10 minutes and Marcos Vinicios added a third on the stroke of half time to condemn the hosts to another 3-0 defeat.
Now finding themselves in the bottom four as a result of their slump, Mancini's men will be desperate to return to winning ways and leapfrog Coritiba and Cuiaba, but they face a particularly tough test against the league leaders.
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The visitors make the trip hoping to strengthen their title claim, having slightly faltered in recent weeks.
Looking to regain the top-flight trophy after falling short last season, Abel Ferreira's side established themselves at the summit with 28 points from their opening 14 games, before playing out a somewhat disappointing draw with Avai and suffering a harmful 2-0 defeat to Athletico Paranaense.
After thrashing Cerro Porteno 8-0 over two legs in their Copa Libertadores round-of-16 tie, the Verdao were unable to return to winning ways in the league, drawing 0-0 with Fortaleza, before the second leg of their Copa do Brasil contest with Sao Paulo ended in a defeat on a penalty shootout.
Eyeing a return to form in the Brazilian top flight after three matches without a triumph, Ferreira's men hosted Cuiaba last time out, and they eventually came out on top, holding on after Gabriel Veron's goal early in the second half to take all three points.
That saw them remain two ahead of defending champions Atletico Mineiro, and the Verdao will now aim to further strengthen their lead with another victory on Thursday.
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Team News
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With just one goal from his 10 league appearances this season, America Mineiro frontman Henrique Almeida could find his place in the starting XI at risk, with the likes of Juan Pablo Ramirez vying to feature from the outset.
Veteran winger Felipe Azevedo does remain a key man in attack, though, and is bound to keep his place on the left-hand side.
Further back, Lucas Kal will again anchor the midfield, with Juninho also set to operate in the engine room.
Palmeiras could again be without star man Rony, who has hit seven goals in 16 league appearances this season, after he was absent from the squad for the Botafogo contest.
In his absence, Gabriel Veron led the line, and he will come into Thursday's game with confidence after hitting the winning goal.
There is plenty of support for the lone striker, with the likes of Raphael Veiga and Gustavo Scarpa offering plenty of threat in the attacking third, while Ze Rafael will hope to take his place back at the base of midfield alongside Danilo.
America Mineiro possible starting lineup:
Cavichioli; Patric, Eder, Patrick, Avelar; Kal; Matheusinho, Juninho, Gustavinho, Azevedo; Almeida
Palmeiras possible starting lineup:
Weverton; Mayke, Gomez, Cerqueira, Piquerez; Rafael, Danilo; Scarpa, Veiga, Dudu; Veron
We say: America Mineiro 1-2 Palmeiras
Palmeiras should be fell of renewed confidence after returning to winning ways last time out, and the league leaders should have more than enough to outclass their struggling hosts and leave with all three points.
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Sam Varley
