Athletico Paranaense will be looking to consolidate their position in the top three of the Brasileiro Serie A when they welcome Bragantino to the Arena da Baixada on Saturday.
The hosts are unbeaten in each of their last eight matches on home soil, while the visitors have failed to win any of their last five games on the road.
Match preview
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Atheltico Paranaense extend their unbeaten run to 10 games across all competitions when they came from behind to beat Bahia 2-1 away from home in the first leg of their Copa do Brasil last-16 tie on Wednesday.
The hosts took an early lead in just the fourth minute through Lucas Mugni, but a strike from Christian restored parity for the Furucao just six minutes later, before Pedro Rocha put the visitors in front just after the half-hour mark, a goal which proved to be the winning strike.
While Paranaense will have one eye on reaching their second successive Copa do Brasil final, Luiz Felipe Scolari's men now have five fixtures to prepare for before taking on Bahia in the second leg next month.
A home clash with Bragantino is next on the agenda, and they will be confident of success on Saturday as they are unbeaten in each of their last five meetings against them, including a slender 1-0 win in the Copa Sudamericana final in November last year.
Paranaense currently sit third in the Brasileiro Serie A standings and victory this weekend would see them move to within four points of league leaders Palmeiras, who face Avai on Sunday.
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After enduring a poor run of form between April 23 and June 5 – winning just once in 12 games across all competitions – Bragantino have now put together a four-game unbeaten run, including a 2-2 draw away at Santos last weekend.
A brace from Leo Baptistao put Santos two goals to the good within the first 36 minutes of the contest, but the visitors fought back to rescue a point, with a strike in first-half stoppage time by Hyoran followed by a 71st-minute equaliser from Luan Candido.
Mauricio Barbieri's side currently sit 10th in the Brasileiro Serie A table and they are one of five teams to have accumulated 18 points from their opening 13 matches of the season.
The Massa Bruta are level on points with Fluminense in sixth and sit just three points behind Saturday's opponents Athletico Paranaense in third.
Bragantino have struggled in recent years when facing Paranaense with their last victory against them dating back to September 2012 when they won 2-1 on home soil.
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Team News
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Athletico Paranaense will be without Vitinho (thigh), Agustin Canobbio (ankle), Marlos (calf) and Thiago Heleno (shoulder) due to injury.
Midfielder Matheus Fernandes will be hoping to force his was back into the first XI ahead of either Hugo Moura or Christian, while forward Matheus Babi could be handed his first start since July last year after recovering from an ACL injury and coming off the substitutes bench on five occasions in recent weeks.
David Terans, who is the club's top scorer so far this term with five strikes to his name, is expected to operate again in the number 10 role behind lone striker Pablo.
As for Bragantino, they will still be without midfielder Emiliano Martinez and forward Ytalo as they continue to recover from respective Achilles and heel injuries.
Barbieri is unlikely to make too many changes, if any, to his starting lineup, with a back four of Aderlan, Kevin Lomonaco, Natan and Candido set to remain intact, shielding goalkeeper Cleiton.
Bruno Praxedes and Hyoran will be battling to start in the number 10 role behind lone striker Jan Hurtado, while Artur and Helinho could retain their places on the flanks.
Athletico Paranaense possible starting lineup:
Bento; Khellven, Henrique, Hernandez, Abner; Moura, Christian; Rocha, Terans, Cuello; Pablo
Bragantino possible starting lineup:
Cleiton; Aderlan, Lomonaco, Natan, Candido; Evangelista, Raul; Artur, Praxedes, Helinho; Hurtado
We say: Athletico Paranaense 2-1 Bragantino
Although Bragantino are beginning to turn their fortunes around, Athletico Paranaense are enjoying an impressive run of form of their own and will be considered as the favourites for Saturday's contest.
Goals are to be expected at the Arena da Baixada, but we can see the hosts securing all three points to keep them in touch with the top two.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Oliver Thomas
