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

Saturday's visitors are currently unbeaten in six league games and will be confident of making it seven considering Avai have lost three on the bounce.

Match preview

Following the disappointment of a 13th-placed finish last season, Sao Paulo have started this campaign much better with just one defeat in eight.

This leaves them fifth in the Brasileirao, which is good enough for qualification to the Copa Libertadores second stage.

A lethal attack is what has left them flying high this season, scoring 14 goals in eight games, which is the most of any team in the league.

Match that up with Brasileirao's second-worst defence this weekend in Avai and Sao Paulo will be licking their lips for more goals.

Striker Jonathan Calleri is the top goalscorer in the league with eight goals and has already netted more this season than he did last year with Sao Paulo.

However, although they have so far lost just once this season, Sao Paulo have drawn half of their games and a leaky defence might be the cause of that.

Saturday's visitors have already conceded 10 goals this season, which is only better than a handful of teams in the league.

Saturday will therefore be no walkover for Sao Paulo because Avai have every chance of getting past that defence.

Saturday's hosts, meanwhile, are currently 13th and following a good start with three wins in five, they have now lost three on the bounce.

Nonetheless, following promotion to the top tier last season, Avai can still look at their start positively as they are situated just one point outside the Copa Sudamericana qualification places.

This will be their first match against Sao Paulo in three years with the last encounter being a 1-0 victory to Saturday's visitors.

In fact, Avai have not beaten their upcoming opponents in seven years, which will make Saturday a very tricky task for Eduardo Barroca's side.

Avai Brasileiro form:

Sao Paulo Brasileiro form:

Sao Paulo form (all competitions):

Team News

In their most recent outing, Avai were boosted by the return of Matheus Bressan and Muriqui, who both had spells on the sidelines due to injury.

However, Saturday's hosts will still be without Jean Pyerre and will also have to make do without goalkeeper Douglas Friedrich, who was sent off against Atletico Mineiro.

The visitors also had a player sent off in their last match, so Sao Paulo will have Igor Gomes unavailable for selection due to suspension.

They will also be without Andres Colorado and Gabriel Sara, who are both injured but other than that, it is a full clean bill of health for Rogerio Ceni's men.

Avai possible starting lineup:

Gledson; Silva, Bressan, Chaves, Cortez; Raniele; Pottker, Cleber, Biasi, Feitosa; Bissoli

Sao Paulo possible starting lineup:

Jandrei; Costa, Arboleda, Leo; Rafinha, Luan, Nestor, Reinaldo; Luciano, Calleri, Anderson

We say: Avai 1-2 Sao Paulo

Both sides struggle defensively which means it is unlikely there will be a clean sheet in this match.

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