Preview: Ceara vs. Internacional - prediction, team news, lineups

In search of back to back victories for the first time this term, Ceara welcome Internacional to the Estadio Castelao on Wednesday in round 24 of the Brasileirao.

On the other hand, the away side will be looking to bounce back from a defeat last time out which brought an end to their eight-game unbeaten streak.

Match preview

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Internacional were denied a fourth win on the bounce following a 1-0 defeat to league leaders Atletico Mineiro in Belo Horizonte on Sunday.

Keno opened the scoring in the 79th minute at the Governor Magalhaes Pinto Stadium and that was enough to put Diego Aguirre's men to the sword.

Suffering defeat for the first time since July, the Celeiro de Ases remain in seventh position, missing out on an opportunity to leapfrog Corinthians into sixth place on the log.

Awaiting them next is a trip to an opposing side who the last 15 meetings against have yielded six wins apiece for either side and three draws.

One of those stalemates was in the most recent encounter back in June, which ended 1-1 at the Estadio Beira-Rio thanks to goals from Edenilson and Lima.

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Ceara picked up a first win in seven outings as they narrowly scraped past newly promoted Chapecoense in a 1-0 triumph two Saturdays ago.

Despite dominating for major parts of the game, it took a 53rd-minute penalty from Jael to secure all three points for Guto Ferreira's men.

With 28 points from 21 matches so far, O Mais Querido are in 12th place at the moment, five places and four points behind their next opponents.

Only the current top two of Atletico Mineiro and Palmeiras have amassed more points on home turf than Wednesday's hosts, who will be confident of giving their fans reason to celebrate come the final whistle.

Team News

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Ceara's Vitor Jacare remains without an appearance this campaign due to a cruciate ligament Injury, but the forward is not far off a return to action.

Down the other end of the pitch, the home side will be without the services of defenders William Klaus and Buiu, who miss out through muscle and knee injuries respectively.

Rodrigo Moledo is Internacional's only unavailable player for the game after the 34-year-old ruptured his cruciate ligament back in January.

Edenilson has directly contributed to more goals than any other player in the division so far, and he will be looking to play a major part in deciding the outcome of this one.

Ceara possible starting lineup:
Richard; Dias, Lacerda, Otavio, Pacheco; Geovane, Sobral, Vina; Kelvyn, Rick, Jael

Internacional possible starting lineup:
Daniel; Moises, Cuesta, Mendez, Saravia; Lindoso, Dourado, Taison; Patrick, Edenilson, Alberto

We say: Ceara 2-1 Internacional

Ceara have been a real force to reckon with in home games this term, while Internacional have not done particularly well on the road. We are backing the home side to come away with all three points in what should be a pulsating affair.