Sunday's Brasileiro predictions including Gremio vs. Botafogo

Santos vs. Goias (Sunday, 3.00pm)

An out-of-sorts and shot-shy Santos crop endeavour to snap an abysmal 12-game winless streak when they play host to fellow bottom-half battlers Goias in Sunday afternoon's Brasileiro affair.

Paulo Turra's men were served a slice of humble pie in a 3-0 beating at the hands of Cuiaba last time out, while their visitors fell victim to Coritiba in a 2-1 home defeat.

We say: Santos 1-0 Goias

Given Santos' repeated shortcomings in the final third and Goias' well-documented phobia of scoring on the road, a goal-laden contest may not be on any fan's bingo card this weekend.

Turra's side certainly need to start picking up results soon before the crisis sets in - if it has not already - but with a couple more days of rest, Santos and their fresh legs can finally pull themselves out of their rut and avoid another Emerald Green beating courtesy of a slender win, however ugly it may be.

Fluminense vs. Internacional (Sunday, 8.00pm)

Locked together on points in the Campeonato Brasileiro, Fluminense and Internacional battle it out for victory on Sunday, when they meet at the Maracana.

Flu boss Fernando Diniz was this week rewarded for his good work by being named Brazil's interim coach until 2024, and his team now clash with another contender for a top-six finish.

We say: Fluminense 1-2 Internacional

Perhaps distracted by events surrounding their manager this week, Fluminense could now suffer damaging back-to-back defeats. The hosts' new signings could take time to settle, too, so Internacional are set to improve their modest away record and surpass Flu in the standings.

Bragantino vs. Sao Paulo (Sunday, 8.00pm)

Top-four chasers Bragantino and Sao Paulo are separated by two points in the Brasileiro table as they prepare to lock horns at Estadio Nabi Abi Chedid.

The hosts enter Sunday's showdown on a five-game winning streak across all competitions, while the visitors head to Nabizao on the back of three straight victories.

We say: Bragantino 2-0 Sao Paulo

When you couple Bragantino's strong home form with Sao Paulo's poor away record this season, all the signs point towards another victory for Massa Bruta at Estadio Nabi Abi Chedid.

Gremio vs. Botafogo (Sunday, 10.30pm)

Brasileiro leaders Botafogo travel to Porto Alegre to face Gremio in a top-of-the-table clash on Sunday.

The top two in Brazil will round off matchday 14 when they meet at the Arena do Gremio for the most hotly-anticipated clash of the weekend.

We say: Gremio 1-1 Botafogo

Few sides are better equipped and in as good a run of form to take on the league leaders than Gremio currently, having won six of their last seven league games.

Despite their near-imperious record so far this season, Botafogo will find it difficult against a side hoping to close the gap, and there may not be much between the sides.

Fortaleza vs. Athletico PR (Sunday, 10.30pm)

Fortaleza and Athletico Paranaense are locked on 20 points in the Brasileiro table ahead of their showdown at Estadio Governador Placido Castelo on Sunday.

Both sides faced Flamengo in their previous match, with Fortaleza enduring a 2-0 league defeat and Athletico suffering a 2-1 Copa do Brasil loss in midweek.

We say: Fortaleza 1-1 Athletico Paranaense

Given that Fortaleza and Athletico Paranaense are locked on 20 points, we expect Sunday's clash to be a tense and cagey affair, with a low-scoring draw looking like the most probable result.