Preview: Avai vs. Flamengo - prediction, team news, lineups

The Leao da Ilha, meanwhile, will head into the weekend seeking to get one over the visitors, having failed to win their last five meetings since 2015.

Match preview

Avai were sent crashing back down to earth in the Brasileiro Serie A as they fell to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Ceara when the sides squared off last Wednesday.

In an end-to-end affair at the Arena Castelao, Brazilian midfielder Vina came up trumps for the hosts as he found the target right on the stroke of half time to hand them all three points.

Prior to that, Eduardo Barroca's men snapped their four-game winless run on July 16 when they claimed a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Santos courtesy of Guilherme Bissoli's 10th-minute penalty.

Avai now return home where they are currently unbeaten in four of their last five outings, claiming two wins and two draws — with a 2-1 loss against Cuiaba on July 3 being the only exception.

The Leao da Ilha have now picked up six wins, three draws and lost nine of their 18 games so far to collect 21 points and sit 13th in the Serie A table, level on points with Botafogo and Goias.

On the other hand, Flamengo maintained their sensational run of form on home turf as they comfortably brushed aside Juventude 4-0 at the Estadio Nacional de Brasilia last time out.

A brace from Pedro and Everton Ribeiro's 18th-minute strike put the hosts three goals up heading into the interval before substitute Lazaro put the icing on the cake with an 86th-minute strike.

Dorival Junior's men have now won each of their last six home games, scoring 20 goals and conceding just once since June's 2-1 defeat against Fortaleza.

Flamengo, who are on a three-game winning streak across all competitions, are currently seventh in the league standings, level on 27 points with eighth-placed Bragantino.

Next up for the Rubro-Negro is an opposing side who are winless in each of their last five encounters, managing two draws and losing three since a 2-1 victory in May 2015.

Avai Brasileiro form:

Flamengo Brasileiro form:

Flamengo form (all competitions):

Team News

Avai remain without several key players down the spine of the team as the likes of Morato (muscle), Paulo Baya (back) and Matheus Galdezani (knee) have all been sidelined through injuries.

Veteran midfielder Bruno Silva is set to sit out his second consecutive game after picking up a muscle injury midway through the game against Cuiaba on July 3.

The midfield duo of Muriqui and Romulo will also play no part in this weekend's encounter through muscle and thigh problems respectively.

Meanwhile, Flamenego will take to the pitch without goalkeeper Diego Alves, who picked up a groin problem against Atletico Mineiro back in June, while Diego and Marinho are recuperating from thigh and muscle injuries respectively.

The duo of defender Rodrigo Caio and 31-year-old forward Bruno Henrique are out of contention for the Rubro-Negro as they continue their spells on the sidelines through knee problems.

With his brace against Juventude, Pedro has now been involved in 12 goals in his last eight games and we expect the 25-year-old to spearhead the attack, alongside former Inter Milan striker Gabriel Barbosa.

Avai possible starting lineup:

Vladimir; Kevin, Bressan, Vaz, Natanael; Cleber, Biasi, Ventura; Pottker, Bissoli, Silva

Flamengo possible starting lineup:

Santos; Rodinei, Luiz, Pereira, Luis; Maia, Gomes; Ribeiro, Arrascaeta, Pedro; Barbosa

We say: Avai 0-2 Flamengo

Avai face the stern test of taking on a rampant Flamengo side who are currently in red-hot form. The Rubro-Negro have won seven of their last eight games in all competitions and we are backing them to extend their dominance over the hosts.

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