Preview:Cuiaba vs. Athletico Paranaense - prediction, team news, lineups

Round 20 of the 2024 Brasileiro season sees Cuiaba entertain the challenge of Athletico Paranaense at Arena Pantanal on Sunday.

The teams head into this one having recorded contrasting results last time out, but they will both be out for victory in this weekend's clash nonetheless.

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Match preview

Athletico Paranaense secured safe passage into the last 16 of this year's Copa Sudamericana thanks to a 2-1 victory over Cerro Porteno at Ligga Arena on Friday.

Gonzalo Mastriani broke the deadlock inside three minutes to hand Martin Varini's men a narrow first-half advantage which was doubled just shy of the hour mark by Cuello before Fernando Fernandez pulled one back midway through the second half.

Prior to that, El Rubro-Negro were on the receiving end of a 1-0 defeat against Red Bull Bragantino and remain eighth in the Brasileiro table.

Awaiting them next is the task of facing off against an opposing outfit who have picked up only one victory from the last six meetings between the teams, losing four of the other five.

Despite boasting the third-best defensive away record in the division, Sunday's visitors have won just two of their last seven league games on the road largely due to their attacking woes.

Unlike Paranaense, Cuiaba failed to make it past the Copa Sudamericana round-of-32 following a 2-1 defeat against Palestino on Thursday evening.

Goals in either half from Junior Marabel and Gonzalo Sosa left Petit's men in a deep hole before Andre Luis pulled one back 12 minutes from time.

That came off the back of a 1-0 defeat against Fluminense which left Auriverde da Baixada 16th in the standings, two points clear of relegation danger.

Having lost each of their last three home involvements leading up to this one, Sunday's hosts will be aiming to turn things around in front of their fans.

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Team News

Cuiaba's Derik Lacerda is a doubt for this one after coming off with an injury scare against Palestino last time out.

Andre Luis came off the bench to good effect in the aforementioned game and could be rewarded with a place in the hosts' starting XI here.

Twenty-one-year-old Vinicius Kaue is still out of contention for Paranaense as he steps up his recovery from a knee problem.

Midfielder Cuello was directly involved in both of the visitors' goals against Cerro Porteno and will be looking to deliver the goods once again.

Cuiaba possible starting lineup: Walter; Alexandre, Marllon, Empereur, Ramon; Mineiro, Denilson, Fernando, Cafu, Pitta; Clayson

Athletico Paranaense possible starting lineup: Linck; Esquivel, Gamarra, Rocha; Cuello, Erick, Gabriel, Canobbio; Zapelli, Christian, Di Yorio

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We say: Cuiaba 1-0 Athletico Paranaense

With two of the Brasileiro's lowest-scoring teams going head to head, we are anticipating a nervy and cagey affair. However, we can also see the hosts just about edging out their visitors to claim maximum points in the end.

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

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