Preview: Atletico Goianiense vs. Sao Paulo - prediction, team news, lineups

Separated by just two points in the Serie A standings - with the visitors holding the upper hand - both teams aim to give their pursuit of a top-six place a boost with their fifth league win of the season.

Match preview

Having taken only six points from as many matches during a sticky patch in the Campeonato Brasileiro, fallen giants Sao Paulo at least have one foot in the Copa Sudamericana quarter-finals following the events of Thursday night.

Rogerio Ceni's side raced into a three-goal lead during the first leg of their last-16 tie with Universidad Catolica, and despite going down to eight men and conceding twice after the interval, carry a commanding 4-2 advantage into the home leg later this month.

Now a decade on from the club's last major national or continental trophy, Tricolor Paulista have already seen hopes of mounting a sustained challenge for Brasileiro glory decimated by inconsistency, and they currently trail first-placed Palmeiras by a margin of 10 points.

Indeed, cup football looks to be Sao Paulo's best bet of tasting success this term, after they edged towards the Copa do Brasil's last eight by beating the league leaders in last month's first leg fixture.

In contrast, a goalless draw with lowly Juventude last time out in Serie A continues a grim run of league form, and they have managed merely one win from eight games before heading to Goiania this weekend.

Atletico-GO, meanwhile, endured a far less productive midweek engagement, and have put themselves on the back foot before the return leg of their Copa Sudamericana tie with Paraguay's Olimpia.

After slipping to a 2-0 defeat in Asuncion on Thursday, the Goias state side have plenty of work to do if they are to resurrect hopes of a quarter-final spot in South America's second-tier club competition, and they are now winless in their last three games.

Head coach Jorginho had seen his side win three from four league outings before being held to a Copa do Brasil draw by local rivals Goias, and they have since followed up last weekend's 1-1 draw against Ceara with defeat on Thursday.

Recently returned to the dugout after a year away from the club, the 1994 World Cup winner now faces his first sticky patch since replacing former boss Umberto Louzer.

As Atletico sit amid a tightly-packed lower section of the Serie A standings - just two points above the relegation zone, but only four shy of the top six - a return to winning ways would get them back on track for bettering last year's ninth-placed finish.

Atletico Goianiense Brasileiro form:

Atletico Goianiense form (all competitions):

Sao Paulo Brasileiro form:

Sao Paulo form (all competitions):

Team News

Bolstering their options in midfield, Atletico-GO have Edson back from suspension on Sunday, after missing Thursday's Copa Sudamericana defeat, and Gabriel Baralhas returns from a domestic ban.

Defensive duo Gabriel Noga and Wanderson both recently recovered from injury, and they are set to battle it out for a place at centre-back, while top scorer Wellington Rato should start in support of Argentinian striker Diego Churin up front.

Though the Sao Paulo trio of Jonathan Calleri, Rodrigo Nestor and Igor Vinicius were all sent off in the remarkable midweek win in Chile, all three are available on Sunday as their subsequent bans relate to continental competition only.

The visitors have a long list of injuries, though, as players including Gabriel Sara (ankle), Alisson (knee), Caio (cruciate ligament), Luan (adductor) and Robert Arboleda (ankle) remain sidelined.

Following a brace in midweek, Luciano should partner regular centre-forward Calleri up front.

Atletico Goianiense possible starting lineup:

Ronaldo; Hayner, Noga, Ramon, Jefferson; Baralhas, Freitas; Rato, Jorginho, Airton; Churin

Sao Paulo possible starting lineup:

Jandrei; Costa, Miranda, Leo; Neves; Vinicius, Maia, Reinaldo, Nestor; Luciano, Calleri

We say: Atletico Goianiense 0-1 Sao Paulo

Still without an away win in the league this season, Sao Paulo can finally end their drought, on the back of a spirited cup performance in trying circumstances. Atletico-GO tend to keep things tight on home soil, though, so the margin of victory will be slim.

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