Preview: Fortaleza vs. Cuiaba - prediction, team news, lineups

Fortaleza will hope to get themselves back into the title race in the Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A on Monday when they host Cuiaba from Arena Castelao.

Leao do Pici drew Juventude 1-1 last Saturday and got some help from Cuiaba, who defeated Palmeiras 2-0.

Match preview

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One of the up and coming sides in the Brazilian top flight are proving that they could be in Serie A for a long time to come.

Sitting in a tie for second with Palmeiras, Fortaleza have only suffered two defeats in their last 11 league fixtures after earning promotion into the top flight back in 2018.

This team have risen quickly up the ranks with a balanced attack, scoring 27 goals, the second-most among clubs in the Brasileiro Serie A this year.

They come into this encounter with an impressive defensive record at home, allowing only four goals all season in league play, maintaining three clean sheets in their last four fixtures.

It is still early, but Juan Pablo Vojvoda has to be impressed with how his side have performed, especially when you consider the fact that this club only avoided relegation a season ago on goal difference, it is pretty incredible to see them in the hunt to win the title.

While scoring first is always ideal, Fortaleza have had their struggles lately when drawing first blood, failing to win their three league fixtures this month in which they scored the opening goal.

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Last weekend Cuiaba pulled off perhaps their most memorable victory in their brief time in Serie A, beating the mighty Palmeiras 2-0.

After only two minutes, they took the lead and then withstood a barrage of pressure, conceding 31 shots and having only 34% possession, but they still came away with three points, adding a goal in injury time.

While they may not have looked like the better team, Jorginho has to be happy with how well his group have played together in some difficult environments, especially away from home, where they are unbeaten in their last seven league contests.

Dourado are certainly not dominating their opponents, but they have done a great job of maintaining their composure defensively against some of the more potent sides in the league, allowing only one shot on target last month against the highest-scoring team in the league at the moment, Bragantino.

They are currently holding a four-point cushion above the relegation line, and they know that they have to keep their momentum going as one slip-up can change everything.

Their defensive shape has been most impressive away from home, where they have maintained four clean sheets this year.

Team News

Fortaleza keeper Felipe Alves has five clean sheets in the Serie A this year, putting him three back of Everson of Atletico Mineiro for the league lead.

Four new players were in the starting 11 against Sao Paulo in the Copa do Brasil from their draw with Juventude as Titi replaced Marcelo Benevenuto in central defence, Yago Pikachu started in place of Bruno Melo, Matheus Vargas played as an attacking midfielder with David moving up to play striker, while Romarinho and Robson began the game on the bench with Wellington Paulista starting upfront.

Clayson scored the winning goal for Cuiaba in their upset victory last Sunday, his second of the year, while Uillian Correia scored his first of the season.

Walter stopped all seven shots that he faced in their previous game and has two clean sheets in his last four matches, while Elton still leads the team in goals with five, just two ahead on Jenison and three more than Pepe.

Fortaleza possible starting lineup:
Alves; Jussa, Benevenuto, Tinga; Melo, Henrique, Ederson, Crispim; David; Osvaldo, Paulista

Cuiaba possible starting lineup:
Walter; Uendel, Paulao, Marllon, Ramon; Clayson, Pepe, Auremir, Camilo; Cafu, Elton

We say: Fortaleza 2-1 Cuiaba

Cuiaba shocked everyone with their victory last weekend in the fortress known as Allianz Parque, no less, but it could be too much for them to pull off another upset so soon, especially against a team who are as sound defensively as Fortaleza, who have yet to lose at home.