Preview: Cuiaba vs. Athletico Paranaense - prediction, team news, lineups

The hosts were beaten by late goals in their Copa Sudamericana defeat, whilst the visitors confirmed their progression to the next stage of the Copa Libertadores thanks to a thumping victory.

Match preview

Having already had their exit from the Copa Sudamericana confirmed on the previous matchday, Cuiaba put out a second-string starting 11 when they travelled to Peruvian outfit Melgar on Thursday evening.

As expected, William Araujo's side suffered defeat across the continent, although after Gustavo Nescau equalised just after the hour mark, Cuiaba looked set to pick up an impressive point thanks to a stubborn defensive display.

However, two late goals from their hosts condemned them to a 3-1 defeat, but attentions now return to the Brasileiro when they host Paranaense on Sunday.

After avoiding relegation by just four points last year, Cuiaba have began the new campaign rather poorly once again, having picked up just eight points from their opening seven outings.

As a result, last year's draw specialists began matchday 8 in 16th spot in the Brasileiro, just one place and two points above the drop zone, despite winning two of their first three league outings this season.

With both of those successes coming on the road in the opening weeks of the campaign, Cuiaba go in search of their first win in front of their own supporters this season when they take to the field on Sunday.

Meanwhile, unlike their hosts at the weekend, visitors Paranaense come into this clash on the back of cup success in midweek.

Luiz Felipe Scolari's side ran out comfortable 5-1 winners over Venezuelan outfit Caracas at the Arena da Baixada on Thursday night to confirm a second-placed finish in the Copa Libertadores, thus seeing them progress to the playoff stages.

The victory continued the recent theme under the former Chelsea and Brazil boss, who has overseen five wins and just one defeat in his six games at the helm so far.

This comes as a completely different contrast to that under his predecessor Fabio Carille, who was sacked after just three weeks into the job following three wins and four defeats during his brief tenure.

As a result, the inconsistent opening to the Brasileiro campaign sees Scolari take his men to Cuiaba in 12th spot at the time of writing, having netted only five goals in their opening seven fixtures.

Five wins and a defeat may well have been recorded in their last six games across all competitions, but with three of those wins arriving in cup competitions, Scolari will be hopeful that his side can replicate their cup success in the Brasileiro too, beginning at the Arena Pantanal on Sunday.

Cuiaba Brasileiro form:

Cuiaba form (all competitions):

Athletico Paranaense Brasileiro form:

Athletico Paranaense form (all competitions):

Team News

Following his red card in Cuiaba's last outing in the Brasileiro last weekend, full-back Joao Lucas will sit out of Sunday's clash courtesy of a one-match suspension, leaving Daniel Guedes likely to deputise in defence.

Rafael Gava was also given his marching orders in the 1-1 draw with Internacional despite being sat on the bench, but as a result, the central midfielder will serve the first of his two-game ban on Sunday.

Elton and Camilo are the only injury concerns though, with the duo being labelled as doubts due to thigh and ankle injuries respectively.

After resting much of his preferred starting 11 in midweek, Araujo will rotate his second-string side that was fielded on Thursday in order to return closer to his ideal lineup.

As for the visitors, Scolari was unable to rest his first 11 when facing Caracas in a must-win cup tie on Thursday, instead fielding the same starting lineup that he had for the previous two outings.

The veteran boss could well opt to leave his unchanged once more following three consecutive victories with this side, although Agustin Canobbio will have to be assessed after being forced off with a knock just before the hour mark in midweek.

German Conti and Juninho definitely remain sidelined through injury, whilst Paulinho Boia, Wellington Paulista, Everaldo and Orlando Berrio are labelled as injury doubts.

Cuiaba possible starting lineup:

Walter; Guedes, Marllon, Empereur, Uendel; Pepe, Rivas; Marquinhos, Valdivia, Marques; Jenison

Athletico Paranaense possible starting lineup:

Bento; Khellven, Henrique, Hernandez, Vinicius; Moura, Christian; Canobbio, Terans, Cuello; Pablo

We say: Cuiaba 1-2 Athletico Paranaense

Despite the visitors having no opportunity to rest their preferred starters in midweek, unlike their hosts, we can see them coming away with all three points on Sunday owing to their excellent form under Scolari.

The experienced manager has his side firing on all cylinders at present, and he should be able to oversee his side take advantage of of a Cuiaba side lacking in form and confidence heading into this encounter.

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