Brazilian Serie A leaders Botafogo will be attempting to gain revenge on Athletico Paranaense when the two sides meet on Saturday.
Athletico PR prevailed on penalties in midweek, after the two sides had drawn 3-3 on aggregate at the last-16 stage of the Copa do Brasil.
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Having finished sixth in Brazil's top tier last season, as well as losing to Flamengo in the Copa Libertadores final, Athletico PR are hoping to continue their forward momentum under head coach Paulo Turra.
However, after sensationally winning 22 of his first 28 matches in charge following being upgraded from his position as assistant manager last year, Furacao have since lost four consecutive matches, which represents one more than across those aforementioned 28 games in total.
Admittedly, one of those was followed by the aforementioned penalty shootout win against Botafogo in midweek, while their 2-1 defeat to Atletico Mineiro in the Copa Libertadores may not prove to be too costly given that they still top Group G with two matches remaining.
Defeats to Bragantino and Gremio in the league have seen Turra's side fall outside the top half of the table, though, with their forthcoming opponents nine points clear at the summit.
As such, if they are to maintain any outside hopes of lifting Serie A for the first time in the club's history, they cannot afford to fall to a third successive loss on Saturday.
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Botafogo, meanwhile, have opened up a healthy five-point lead at the top of the table, as they aim to win Serie A for the first time since 1995.
In more recent years, of course, Fogo have flickered between Brazil's top two divisions, bouncing back as champions at the first attempt in 2015 and 2021. As such, for them to be leading the table even at this early stage of their second campaign back in the top flight represents a remarkable achievement.
However, Luis Castro - who has clearly significantly improved the fortunes of the club since taking over in March 2022 - will be keen to keep his players' feet on the ground, with their penalty shootout defeat to Athletico PR in midweek potentially serving as a blessing in disguise in that regard.
Botafogo are on the brink of reaching the knockout stages of the Copa Sudamericana, which is a competition that they will treat with the utmost respect having never won it, and they will hope to retain their lead as a worst possible outcome by tasting immediate revenge against Athletico PR on Saturday.
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Athletico PR will remain without Romulo Cardoso and former Manchester City midfielder Fernandinho due to muscle injuries, but Leo Cittadini and Marcelo Cirino returned from their own issues to make their side's matchday squad in midweek.
Vitor Bueno is likely to return to the hosts' starting XI after only being used from the bench during that defeat against their forthcoming opponents, but Turra is unlikely to make too many changes.
Botafogo, meanwhile, will reflect on the fact that they did manage to beat Athletico PR in regulation time, which should increase their confidence of gaining a result with a similar group of players.
They will have to travel without Matias Segovia, Danilo Barbosa, Patrick de Paula and Gatito Fernandez due to injury problems, though, with Luis Henrique set to return to the visitors' attack from the start after being used from the bench on Wednesday.
Athletico Paranaense possible starting lineup:
Bento; Madson, P Henrique, Heleno, Fernando; Erick, Christian; Canobbio, Bueno, Pablo; Roque
Botafogo possible starting lineup:
Perri; Di Placido, Adryelson, Cuesta, Marcal; Freitas, Tche Tche; Santos, Fernandes, L Henrique; Eduardo
We say: Athletico Paranaense 1-2 Botafogo
Despite winning on penalties in the cup in midweek, Athletico PR's defeat in normal time was their fourth successive loss, and we expect the visitors to smell blood this weekend.
Castro's side have won seven of their eight league games so far this season, and we can envisage them making that record eight from nine to potentially further increase their lead at the top of Serie A.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Brett Curtis
