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

Both sides are currently sitting in the relegation zone and require a serious upturn in results to avoid playing second-tier football in 2024.

Match preview

Coritiba earned their first win of the Brasileiro campaign with a 2-1 away success at Goias - a result which shocked the division on Monday evening.

Goals from Alef Manga and Benjamin Kuscevic had the visitors ahead at Estadio de Haile Pinheiro, and despite a second-half strike from Dodozinho, Coritiba were able to hold on for a much-needed maximum.

Thiago Kosloski's men remain rooted to the bottom of the Brasileiro standings despite winning last time out, now five points from safety having collected seven points from 13 league matches so far.

Coritiba have managed just three points in six matches in front of their home faithful so far, scoring only three goals in the process - the fewest a side has netted at home in the entire Brasileiro.

America Mineiro are also coming off a midweek success although their victory did not them Brasileiro points, with Friday's visitors winning the first leg of their Brazil Cup matchup.

It was a battle of the strugglers in the quarter-final clash as Mineiro faced off against Corinthians, and a 32nd-minute goal from Juninho was the decisive moment of the contest.

Vagner Mancini's men have also been successful in the Copa Sudamericana of late having secured their place in the knockout stages with a 2-1 win over Penarol, however things have not been going as smoothly domestically.

America are currently four games without a Brasileiro win and sit second-bottom of the standings, only ahead of Friday's opponents Coritiba by two points, meaning will fall to the foot of the table if they were to lose.

Coritiba Brasileiro form:

D

L

D

L

L

W

America Mineiro Brasileiro form:

L

W

D

L

L

D

America Mineiro form (all competitions):

D

L

L

W

D

W

Team News

Coritiba will be without the services of midfielder Lizeiro until early August after the 25-year-old suffered a knee injury in the goalless draw against Santos last month.

The hosts' engine room was been further weaken by the absence of Willian Farias in recent matches, and the Brazilian is touch and go for this clash as he recovers from a muscle injury.

America's issues lie in the defensive areas in terms of injuries, with 30-year-old centre-back Ricardo Silva sidelined due to a knee knock.

Mikael has endured an injury-disrupted time since moving on loan from Serie A outfit Salernitana in January, with the attacker playing just nine matches since the switch and currently recovering from a thigh strain.

Coritiba possible starting lineup:

Gabriel; Batista; Kuscevic, Dombroski, Jamerson; Bianqui, Andrey, Moreno; Robson, Manga, Roberto

America Mineiro possible starting lineup:

Pasinato; Marlon, Eder, Maidana, Avelar; Martinez, Kal, Everaldo, Benitez, Juninho; Mastriani

We say: Coritiba 1-1 America Mineiro

Coritiba will have gained a little bit of confidence from their maiden Brasileiro win last time out, and now have a good opportunity to record back-to-back successes as America come to town.

Previews by email