Corinthians will be looking to extend their lead at the top of the Brasileiro when they welcome America Mineiro to the Neo Quimica Arena on Sunday.

The hosts were last in action when they slipped up at home to Bolivian minnows Always Ready on Thursday evening, whilst the visitors were comprehensively beaten in Ecuador to round off a disappointing Copa Libertadores campaign.

Match preview

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Despite being huge favourites to defeat their Bolivian visitors by a wide margin on Thursday, Corinthians had to settle for a 1-1 draw, which cost them top spot in Group E of the Copa Libertadores.

Vitor Pereira's side did at least seal their progression to the playoff stages of the competition, but there is no doubt that the result, and its impact on their position in the group, were a shock.

Timao must quickly turn their attentions back to their 2022 Brasileiro campaign however, where they boast a two-point lead at the top of the table after the opening seven rounds of fixtures.

However, back-to-back draws in the league against Internacional and rivals Sao Paulo have seen their advantage cut in recent weeks, although it does only remain the very early stages of the 2022 season.

Those successive draws in the league make it four in a row across all competitions for Corinthians, so Pereira will be looking for his side to improve their game management and keep a tight defence in order to see the game out when they take to the field on Sunday.

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Meanwhile, the visitors also suffered a setback in their Copa Libertadores tie in midweek, with Mineiro going down 3-0 at Ecuadorian side Independiente on Wednesday evening.

Vagner Mancini's side headed into the final game of the group stage in bottom place anyway, but a win could well have earned his side a spot in the Copa Sudamericana, but instead, they exit the competition completely and turn their attentions back to the Brasileiro.

An impressive return to the top flight last year saw Mineiro finish eighth in the table, and seven matchdays into the 2022 campaign, Sunday's visitors find themselves occupying ninth spot ahead of their trip to the league leaders.

Although, following the loss at Cortiba and draw with Botafogo last weekend, Mancini's side head into the daunting trip on the back of a four-game winless streak across all competitions, making their task all the more difficult.

However, Coelho have become somewhat of a bogey team for the giants in recent years, following a run of just one defeat in their last five meetings, including the 1-1 draw in this fixture back in September.

Therefore, Mancini will be looking to draw on their recent success against Corinthians, and will look to use it to boost his side's confidence after their setbacks in recent weeks.

Team News

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Pereira has been a manager that has tended to alter his team's shape on a regular basis this season, leaving his opponents guessing on how his side will set up in terms of personnel and formation.

Although, one certainty is the unavailability of former Tottenham Hotspur and Barcelona midfielder Paulinho, who has been ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering a serious knee injury at the beginning of May.

Fagner, Ruan Oliveira and Luan have also been on the sidelines in recent weeks, and all three are listed as doubts for Sunday's fixture.

However, after sitting out in midweek due to the injury picked up against Sao Paulo last weekend, first-choice goalkeeper Cassio will return between the posts for Corinthians.

As for the visitors, Juninho and German Conti remain doubts to return from recent absences due to thigh injuries.

Paulinho Boia, Wellington Paulista, Everaldo and Orlando Berrio are also listed as doubts for Mineiro, who were unable to rest any players in midweek as they targeted a third-place finish in Group D of the Copa Libertadores.

Despite the disappointment, Mancini is unlikely to alter his side too much, with a consistent starting 11 utilised in recent weeks.

Corinthians possible starting lineup:
Cassio; Mantuan, Victor, Gustavo, Piton; Queiroz, Maycon, Augusto; Adson, Jo, Willian

America Mineiro possible starting lineup:
Jailson; Patric, Maidana, Eder, Lopes; Ale, Kal, Rodriguinho; Almeida, Aloisio, Azevedo

We say: Corinthians 2-0 America Mineiro

Based on recent meetings, very few goals are to be expected at the Neo Quimica Arena on Sunday, with only seven being scored in the last six encounters between the two sides.

Corinthians may have struggled in their recent outings against Mineiro, but they should be able to seal a relatively comfortable three points here based on their positive start to the campaign and their lack of travelling in midweek, unlike their visitors.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

Written by
Matthew Tranter

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