Palmeiras will be aiming to return to winning ways in Serie A when they face rock-bottom Coritiba on Sunday.
Three successive draws in Brazil's top flight have allowed Botafogo to open up a significant gap at the top of the table, while Coritiba are yet to win a league match this season.
Match preview
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Having won the Campeonato for a record 11th time in their history last season, Palmeiras are hoping to retain their title under Abel Ferreira.
However, since collecting 13 points from their opening five league games, Ferreira's side have been held in each of their last three matches to fall five points behind league leaders Botafogo ahead of this weekend's domestic action in Brazil.
Moreover, they were surprisingly dumped out of the Copa do Brasil at the last-16 stage by Fortaleza in midweek, with Juan Martin Lucero's 73rd-minute strike earning the hosts a deserved victory from a match that they dominated.
With their progression to the knockout stages of the Copa Libertadores all but secured with two matches to spare, Ferreira will be determined to see his side reduce the five-point deficit to Botafogo within the coming weeks, starting with a return to winning ways against the division's weakest team so far this season on Sunday.
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Indeed, having flirted with relegation for the most part of last season - ultimately surviving by five points - Coritiba appear to be in serious danger of dropping back down to Serie B after gaining promotion in 2021.
Glorioso's dismal start to the campaign saw the club's hierarchy opt to replace Guto Ferreira with Antonio Carlos Zago as their manager in late April, but the 54-year-old must already be in danger of losing his job having failed to win any of his eight matches in charge in all competitions since being appointed.
Coritiba crashed out of the Copa do Brasil in the opening round with a 2-0 defeat to second tier outfit Sport Recife, with three draws and three defeats in the league since that loss seeing them remain rock-bottom of the table.
There is still plenty of time for Zago to turn things around, of course - providing he is given the time and patience to do so - but they are undoubtedly huge underdogs to do so against the reigning champions this weekend.
Team News
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Palmeiras will remain without Murilo Cerqueira and Eduard Atuesta due to shoulder and knee injuries respectively.
After making some changes for the trip to Fortaleza in the cup on Wednesday, Ferreira is likely to revert to a similar starting XI that earned a 1-1 draw away to Atletico Mineiro last weekend, with Dudu set to start on the left flank after scoring a crucial second half equaliser.
Coritiba, meanwhile, appear likely to travel without Rodrigo Pinho and Thiago Dombroski due to muscle injuries, while Marcelino Moreno is struggling with a fever.
Having avoided defeat away to Cuiaba last weekend, Carlos will almost certainly persist with is 3-4-1-2 formation, meaning Robson Fernandes should lead the line once more after scoring last time out.
Palmeiras possible starting lineup:
Weverton; Rocha, Luan, Gomez, Vanderlan; Ze Rafael, Menino; Artur, Veiga, Dudu; Rony
Coritiba possible starting lineup:
Gabriel; Kuscevic, Henrique, Viana; Natanael, Liziero, Gomes, Bahia; Boschilia; Fernandes, Kaio
We say: Palmeiras 2-0 Coritiba
Having failed to win any of their last three league matches, as well as coming fresh off exiting the cup, Palmeiras will be determined to avoid losing ground on Botafogo at the table's summit.
As such, we expect them to have too much motivation and quality for their opponents, who will remain bottom of the table if they can not avoid defeat.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Brett Curtis
