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

While America came out on top in a cup clash between the clubs earlier this month, they sit 18th in the Serie A standings while their visitors are now only two points shy of the top four.

Match preview

Picking up a third win from four matches in the Brasileiro, Internacional edged out rock-bottom Coritiba on Thursday, with a Pedro Henrique penalty midway through the second half proving the difference between the teams at Estadio Couto Pereira.

Despite the gulf in league ranking between them and their lowly hosts, the Colorado were far from fluent during a dismal first half display - an assessment made by several players and coach Mano Menezes after the game - yet they got the job done.

Having also taken care of business against Serie A's second-bottom side, Vasco da Gama, a few days earlier, Inter sit eighth in the table - they remain 10 points adrift of pacesetters Botafogo, however.

After belatedly registering a first away win of the league season, they now travel to Arena Independencia targeting another road victory; topping their tally up to nine points from a possible nine.

Occupying second place in Group B of the Copa Libertadores, Inter return to continental action next week, at home to Colombia's Independiente Medellin, but first they will seek revenge for being turfed out of another cup competition.

Although it took a penalty shootout - after they were beaten 3-1 in the second leg of their last-16 Copa do Brasil tie to draw on aggregate - America Mineiro upset the form book by eliminating Internacional at the start of this month.

Vagner Mancini's men therefore have a quarter-final against Corinthians to look forward to - plus a possible place in the Copa Sudamericana knockout stages - but recent Brasileiro results have failed to keep them out of the drop zone.

Defeated 3-1 by Gremio in midweek, the Minas Gerais club remain stuck inside the bottom four, with just two wins to their name so far. Danilo Avelar's goal gave America the lead in Porto Alegre, but the dismissal of Eder shortly before half time then turned the game on its head.

Mancini later singled out that setback as the reason for his team's loss, which was sealed by a Luis Suarez strike in the 69th minute, and the defender's departure certainly did not help Coelho keep the back door shut.

Such defensive deficiencies have cropped up regularly this year - America have already conceded at least two goals on nine separate occasions - and if they are to start climbing the table and move closer to last season's finish of 10th, improving the league's worst 'goals against' tally is a must.

America Mineiro Brasileiro form:

L

W

L

W

D

L

America Mineiro form (all competitions):

L

W

W

W

D

L

Internacional Brasileiro form:

L

L

W

D

W

W

Internacional form (all competitions):

W

L

D

D

W

W

Team News

After serving a suspension for accumulated yellow cards in midweek, Rodrigo Moleno returns to the Internacional squad on Sunday, but several other players remain sidelined.

Inter coach Mano Menezes will be without Carlos De Pena and Charles Aranguiz due to thigh injuries, while Gabriel (knee) and Mauricio (shoulder) are also ruled out.

Veteran striker Luiz Adriano should lead the line once again, but his status as first choice could be on borrowed time: World Cup star Enner Valencia arrives at the club next week, after racking up 36 goals in 53 matches for Fenerbahce and Ecuador last season.

America, meanwhile, welcomed Martin Benitez back to the bench on Thursday, though the Argentinian's ability to start after overcoming a muscular problem remains in doubt.

In addition to suspended centre-back Eder, who was sent off against Gremio, Ricardo Silva, Dada Belmonte, Matheusinho and Adyson make up the hosts' absence list; Wanderson is set to replace the former in Vagner Mancini's back four.

America Mineiro possible starting lineup:

Pasinato; Marcinho, Wanderson, Maidana, Avelar; Kal, Breno, Juninho; Azevedo, Aloisio, Everaldo

Internacional possible starting lineup:

John; Bustos, Vitao, Mercado, Rene; Romulo, Campanharo; Johnny, Patrick, Henrique; Adriano

We say: America Mineiro 1-2 Internacional

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