Preview: America Mineiro vs. Internacional - prediction, team news, lineups

Internacional will be looking to claim successive league victories when they travel to newly-promoted America Mineiro in the Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A on Monday.

The hosts have failed to win any of their last 10 matches across all competitions, while the Reds have claimed six of their eight points on the road this season.

Match preview

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America Mineiro are still searching for their first league victory since their promotion from Serie B last season, but they managed to rescue a 1-1 draw at home to Juventude on Friday.

Despite Ricardo Silva's 74th minute dismissal, a penalty converted by Juninho five minutes from time cancelled out Matheus Peixoto's first-half spot-kick, to earn just their second point of the campaign.

Lisca's side remain in the relegation zone after that result and are one of five teams who are yet to win a league game so far this campaign.

America's fixture schedule is set to get much tougher, with games against Bahia, Santos and Fortaleza in the next 10 days, so Lisca may look to target Monday's fixture against Internacional to finally open their account in the Brazilian top flight.

Both of their two points claimed so far this season have been picked up on home soil and if they can secure three points against the Reds, then they would climb out of the relegation zone.

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Internacional claimed their second win of the campaign when their nine men beat Chapecoense's 10 men 2-1 away from home in a fiery contest on Friday.

The Reds came out the blocks quickly and opened the scoring five minutes in when Caio Vidal slotted the ball into the bottom left corner, before Yuri Alberto doubled their lead in the 35th minute.

Chapecoense pulled one back 10 minutes after the break, when a glancing header from Derlan glided into the bottom right corner from Ravanelli's deep free-kick.

Then deep into stoppage time, three players were sent off. A mass brawl broke out after Bruno Silva took a swipe at substitute Joao Peglow for rolling the ball away; he was dismissed before Internacional pair Vidal and Danilo Fernandes were also shown red cards.

Diego Aguirre, who took charge of his first game after the sacking of Miguel Angel Ramirez, sees his side sitting 13th in the Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A table, five points clear of the relegation zone.

Internacional have lost their last two visits to America Mineiro, suffering 1-0 and 2-1 defeats in September 2016 and July 2018, but a victory on Monday could see them catapult up the table into the top five.

Team News

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America Mineiro pair Luiz Fernando and Marlon are still carrying injuries and are unlikely to play any part on Monday.

Silva is suspended after his dismissal in the last game, so Eduardo Bauermann is likely to come in and start at centre-back alongside Anderson de Jesus Santos.

Rodolfo could keep his place in the number 10 role in behind striker Ribamar, with Geovane and Juninho are expected to feature on both flanks.

As for Internacional, 37-year-old Paolo Guerrero – the club's top goalscorer last season – remains out with a cruciate ligament rupture, while Taison (muscle), Rodrigo Moledo (knee) and Moises (muscle) are also unavailable with injuries.

In addition, winger Vidal and goalkeeper Fernandes are both suspended and forward Carlos Palacios is currently away representing Chile at the Copa America.

Thiago Galhardo could be one name brought into the first XI in place of Vidal, but the rest of the team may remain unchanged.

America Mineiro possible starting lineup:
Jory; Eduardo, Bauermann, De Jesus Santos, Ruschel; Juninho, Ze Ricardo; Azevedo, Rodolfo, Geovane; Ribamar

Internacional possible starting lineup:
Daniel; Ze Gabriel, Cuesta, Ribeiro, Heitor; Edenilson, Dourado; Alberto, Mauricio, Patrick; Galhardo

We say: America Mineiro 0-1 Internacional

America Mineiro are yet to adapt to life back in the Brazilian top flight and although they will be desperate to claim their first league win of the season, it could be a struggle in this match.

The visitors will be the favourites for this encounter, and we can see them claiming a narrow victory in Belo Horizonte.