Sports Mole previews Sunday’s Brasileiro clash between Vitoria and Criciuma, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Vitoria will be aiming to end their two-game winless run in Brasileiro Serie A when they host Criciuma at the Estadio Manoel Barradas on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the visitors will be looking to extend their three-match unbeaten streak in a bid to hold onto the final Copa Sudamericana spot.
Match preview
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Vitoria’s woes continued last Thursday when they suffered a heartbreaking 3-2 defeat against Corinthians at the Neo Quimica Arena.
Alerrandro‘s brace was not enough to salvage Thiago Carpini‘s side, as Rodrigo Garro also bagged a double for Time do Povo before Giovane struck a dagger into Rubro-Negro hearts with a 95th-minute goal.
Vitoria have now lost two consecutive outings and three of their last four matches, with a 1-0 victory over Fluminense at the Maracana Stadium on June 27 sandwiched between the defeats.
Carpini’s men sit 16th in the Serie A table with 12 points from their 14 matches, with only a superior goal difference over Corinthians – who are 17th and also on 12 points – keeping them out of the relegation zone.
The Leao da Barra will head into Sunday’s clash hoping to avoid successive home defeats when they take on a side they have not beaten in their last three meetings, losing the last two.
Criciuma ended their two-match winless run when they edged past Cruzeiro 1-0 at the Estadio Heriberto Hulse last Thursday, courtesy of a 49th-minute goal from former Crystal Palace winger Yannick Bolasie.
This win saw the Tigers rise to 12th place with 16 points from 12 games, four points clear of the relegation zone while occupying the final Copa Sudamericana spot due to a superior goal difference over Juventude who are also on 16 points.
Claudio Tencati‘s men have a game or two in hand compared to most sides around them, which is an advantage they will hope to exploit as the season progresses, and one of such sides is the struggling Vitoria who they visit on Sunday.
However, Criciuma have lost two of their last three away matches in Serie A and risk losing consecutive away matches for the first time this campaign, after succumbing to defeat at Sao Paulo in their last game on the road.
Vitoria Brasileiro form:
Criciuma Brasileiro form:
Team News
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Vitoria will be unable to call on the services of midfielder Leo Naldi, who is serving a ban for reaching the yellow cards threshold.
Mateus Gonclaves, Leo Gamalho, Dudu and Camutanga, are all suffering from knee injuries that have ruled them out of this clash, while Iury Castilho also continues his spell on the sidelines.
Everaldo, Bruno Uvini and Osvaldo Filho are also out with thigh issues, while Rodrigo Andrade is recovering from a calf injury.
Allano was sent off for Criciuma in the win over Cruzeiro and is suspended for this clash, while Wilker Angel is still with the Venezuelan team in the ongoing Copa America.
Felipe Vizeu is still recovering from a thigh injury, while right-back Jonathan Lemos has a hamstring problem.
Vitoria possible starting lineup:
Arcanjo; Lepo, Vinicius, Leonardo, Calmon; Santos, Mota, Willian; Matheusinho, Alerrandro, Esteves
Criciuma possible starting lineup:
Gustavo; Claudinho, Maia, Figueiredo, Trauco; Barreto, Ronald, Matheusinho, Hermes; Eder, Bolasie
We say: Vitoria 0-1 Criciuma
Criciuma have dominated recent encounters between the two sides, winning the last two in a three-match winning run. We expect Vitoria to put up a good fight, but we think the away side will nick this one again.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.