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

Fortaleza will look to take their league winning run to four games on Sunday, when they travel to take on America Mineiro.

A strong run of form has seen the visitors climb back up to third spot in the Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A table, while their hosts now sit 10th thanks to a victory of their own last time out.

Match preview

© Reuters

After winning promotion from the second tier last term, America Mineiro had a difficult start to the new campaign, occupying a spot in the relegation zone for large portions of the first half of the season.

They have been able to reverse their form recently, inspiring a climb up the table, having first gone on an eye-catching eight-game league unbeaten run over the course of August, September and October, picking up 16 points in the process.

That was eventually put to an end by a defeat to Internacional, but Marquinhos Santos's side quickly bounced back, drawing with Bahia before they beat Santos 2-0 last time out thanks to goals from Ademir and Alexandre Egea either side of half time.

Thanks to their upturn in form in recent months, the Coelho now sit far more comfortably in 10th spot, six points above the drop zone, and they will be keen to continue their rise into the top half of the division with what would be another eye-catching win on Sunday.

They welcome a Fortaleza side who arrive in a fine run of form on their own, having won their last three league games.

After an inconsistent run across September and the beginning of October, Sunday's visitors briefly dropped out of the top three, but they have since found their feet again.

Juan Pablo Vojvoda's side followed up a defeat to Flamengo with a narrow victory over strugglers Gremio, before they made it two wins on the spin by beating Chapecoense 2-1 away from home, with Yago Pikachu snatching all three points with a 93rd-minute winner.

Pikachu was again on the scoresheet in their most recent league outing, as he netted in the first 10 minutes alongside Lucas Lima against Athletico Paranaense, before Robson capped off a strong team showing with a third goal on the hour mark.

While they have suffered a heavy aggregate defeat to league leaders Atletico Mineiro in the Copa do Brasil semi-final in their recent run, the Leao do Pici will have certainly seen the league as a priority and will now look to make it four top-flight wins on the bounce, with the chance to overtake second-placed Palmeiras.

Team News

© Reuters

After an impressive victory at Santos last time out, America Mineiro are unlikely to make many changes to their side heading into Sunday, with Marquinhos Santos set to stick with his preferred 4-2-3-1 system.

Ademir will continue to be a crucial man in the attacking line, having netted his sixth goal of the season in that win, despite agreeing a deal to move to Atletico Mineiro at the end of the campaign.

Experienced Argentinian forward Mauro Zarate will battle to earn a starting spot, after returning from an injury to feature from the bench last time out.

Fortaleza are likely to field an unchanged side from the one that thrashed Athletico Paranaense 3-0 in the last league outing.

Robson will again lead the line with the support of Lima, after both got on the scoresheet in that game, while Yago Pikachu will continue to offer threat from the wide areas, having found the net in each of the last three league outings.

Vojvoda should deploy an unchanged back three, consisting of Ederson, Titi and Marcelo Benevenuto.

America Mineiro possible starting lineup:
Cavichioli; Patric, Potiguar, Eduardo, Marlon; Kal, Egea; Ademir, Juninho, Azevedo; Zarate

Fortaleza possible starting lineup:
Boeck; Ederson, Benevenuto, Titi; Pikachu, Jussa, Ronald, Melo; Lima; David, Robson

We say: America Mineiro 1-1 Fortaleza

While Fortaleza have now put three league victories together on the spin, the hosts have shown themselves to be particularly difficult to beat in recent months, and we do not see Vojvoda's men leaving with all three points.

We instead expect a share of the spoils, with both sides extending their unbeaten runs in the Brazilian top flight.