Preview: Gremio vs. Coritiba - prediction, team news, lineups

The visitors, meanwhile, require all three points if they are to have a chance of moving off the foot of the table.

Match preview

Having only been promoted from Serie B at the end of last season by finishing as runners-up in Brazil's second tier, very few people could have foreseen Gremio competing at the top end of the top division so quickly.

However, Renato Gaucho continues to go from strength-to-strength as Imortal Tricolor's manager, with his side's 3-1 victory against America Mineiro in midweek boosting his win rate to an impressive 64% since being appointed last September.

Indeed, five wins from their last six matches has seen Gremio surprisingly move into the title picture, while also progressing into the quarter-finals of the Copa do Brasil. Luis Suarez continues to defy recent speculation that his retirement may be imminent due to knee pain, with his strike in midweek his third in his last five appearances.

With the top two simultaneously facing each other on Sunday when Palmeiras host Botafogo, Gremio stand to benefit either way providing they do the business against the bottom-ranked team in the division, with the possibility of gaining ground on the league leaders or moving into second spot both open to them.

Coritiba, on the other hand, appear set to be embroiled in another relegation battle having only survived by five points last season.

Coxa have failed to win any of their 11 league games so far this season, with four draws and seven defeats unsurprisingly seeing them sit rock-bottom of the table ahead of their trip to Porto Alegre on Sunday.

As such, Antonio Carlos Zago - who was only appointed as the club's manager in April - is under significant pressure to save his job, with his side possessing the weakest offensive record in the division and the second worst defensive record, suggesting they can have few complaints regarding their position.

Coritiba are already eight points adrift of safety, and if Sunday's result goes by the form book, that situation could become even worse by the end of the day's action.

Gremio Brasileiro form:

D

W

W

W

L

W

Gremio form (all competitions):

W

W

W

W

L

W

Coritiba Brasileiro form:

L

L

D

L

D

L

Team News

Gremio's lofty position in the table is made more remarkable by the fact that Everton Galdino, Fabio Da Silva, Pepe, Rodrigo Ferreira, Diego Souza, Jhonata Robert, Pedro Geromel and Joao Pedro are all injury doubts for the visit of Coritiba on Sunday.

With a six day gap between this fixture and travelling to Bahia next weekend, former Barcelona and Liverpool forward Suarez may be asked to go through the pain barrier in order to lead the line once more.

Coritiba, meanwhile, will travel without Liziero due to a long-term knee injury, while Willian Farias is doubtful due to a muscle issue.

Natanael could start at right-back for the visitors having been left on the bench for the entirety of his side's 1-0 defeat at home to Internacional in midweek.

Gremio possible starting lineup:

Brenno; Galdino, Martins, Alves, Reinaldo; Villasanti, Mila; Bitello, Cristaldo, Cuiabano; Suarez

Coritiba possible starting lineup:

Gabriel; Pedroso, Kuscevic, Dombroski; Natanael, Bahia, Andrey, Gomes, Moreno; Ze Roberto, Manga

We say: Gremio 2-1 Coritiba

Despite there being 16 points and 17 positions between these two sides ahead of Sunday's meeting, we expect Coritiba to push the hosts hard to earn their victory.

However, Gaucho's side are on a serious roll at present, and it would be surprising if they did not get the job done in the end to maintain pressure on the top two sides.

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