For the first time in nearly two years, Athletico Paranaense will travel to Estadio Sao Januario in Rio de Janeiro to battle Vasco da Gama on Sunday.
O Almirante remain in the relegation zone, losing its second successive Brasileiro Serie A fixture last week, 1-0 versus Cruzeiro, while El Paranaense won their previous domestic affair, 2-0 at home to Bahia, ending a three-match losing run in all competitions.
Match preview
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Vasco supporters waited two years to see their beloved club return to the top flight, but after 14 league fixtures, they have had little to cheer about.
With nine defeats already this season, this team are just one shy of its entire total from the previous campaign when they finished fourth in Serie B with 62 points.
On Sunday the experienced 63-year-old Argentine Ramon Diaz begins what could very well be his biggest challenge as a manager.
At the top of his list of issues to address should be their attacking quality, something which has been in short supply for this team domestically in 2023, with Cruzmaltino netting fewer goals than anyone thus far (11), failing to net in four of its home outings.
The man who guided River Plate to the Copa Libertadores title in 1996 and coached Al-Hilal to multiple Saudi Pro League championships has a tall order ahead of him, but the good news is that there are still 24 league fixtures remaining, and his side are only four points behind Bahia in the battle to stave off relegation.
They enter this contest with just a single goal in its previous four top-flight encounters but are unbeaten in their last three home games against El Paranaense.
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Fresh off its exit from the Copa do Brasil quarter-finals, Furacao managed to dust themselves off and return to winning ways last weekend, claiming its first league shutout since late June.
That triumph moved them up to eighth in the table, which may be a little lower than many had anticipated, however, there is not much ground to make up in the race for a Copa Libertadores berth, with only three points currently separating themselves from Gremio in third.
Caretaker manager Wesley Carvalho is still seeking his first road victory since taking charge last month, with his team losing three successive away matches in all competitions despite netting first in two of those encounters.
While they have given away their share of leads, Paranaense have also been resilient, claiming seven points in league play this year after conceding first.
Lately, this team have had difficulty attacking in transition and creating quality scoring chances, with just two shots on target in each of its two away matches played this month, while being held scoreless in three domestic road fixtures this year.
It has been nearly six years since Athletico walked away with three points at Vasco da Gama (1-0 on July 31, 2017), though they have only suffered two defeats against them since 2013.
Team News
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As many as three players could be unavailable for Vasco da Gama this weekend, including Riquelme, who is recovering from a sprained ACL, Gabriel Dias has a sore tendon and Cauan Barros is dealing with a meniscus injury.
Their last goal scored came courtesy of Jair as he converted a 77th minute penalty to give his side a 1-0 victory over Cuiaba, moving him into a tie with Pedro Raul and Gabriel Pec for the most team goals this season (two), while Leo Jardim made three saves to collect the clean sheet.
Alex Teixeira leads them with three assists in 2023, while Figueiredo is still seeking his first of the campaign after netting four times in 2022.
El Paranaense will be without Fernando for the remainder of the season after he tore his ACL, Romulo is recovering from an unknown problem, Pedro Henrique has a broken ankle and Alex Santana remains sidelined because of a foot injury.
Vitor Roque notched the winner versus Bahia last Sunday, his eighth of the year, putting him second in the league regarding goals, two behind Tiquinho of Batafogo for first, Erick picked up his second of the campaign and Bento stopped six shots for his fifth clean sheet of the season.
Their last away goal in this competition came courtesy of Roque in a 2-1 defeat versus Sao Paulo last month, while he and Christian found the mark the last time they earned a point on the road, drawing America Mineiro 2-2.
Vasco da Gama possible starting lineup:
Jardim; Capasso, Maicon, Leo; Rodriguez, Marlon, Carabajal, Piton; Orellano, Jair; Teixeira
Athletico Paranaense possible starting lineup:
Bento; Madson, Ivaldo, Heleno, Esquivel; Erick, Fernandinho; Bueno, Christian, Cuello; Roque
We say: Vasco da Gama 0-2 Athletico Paranaense
It will take more than just a new face on the sidelines to turn around the fortunes of Vasco da Gama and playing a side with its share of chance creators along with one of the best strikers in the league is probably the last thing they need.
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