Preview: Atletico Goianiense vs. Ceara - prediction, team news, lineups

Atletico Goianiense head into the weekend in 16th position - three points above the relegation zone - and they will bid to end a five-game winless league run when they host Ceara on Saturday in the Campeonato Brasileiro.

Meanwhile, Ceara still have hopes of qualifying for next season's Copa Libertadores, with the visitors only four points adrift of the top six.

Match preview

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Atletico Goianiense are in a precarious position as only three points separate themselves and Bahia in the relegation zone, with Bahia having the advantage of possessing a game in hand.

Saturday's hosts desperately need to halt their slide, after going five matches without a win, and they have failed to score in all of those five encounters.

The positive for Dragao is that after suffering three consecutive defeats, they have proven to be a tougher team to beat in their last two outings.

They head into the weekend on the back of successive goalless draws, but if they are to avoid the drop then the visitors need to start picking up victories.

Atletico Goianiense have been solid defensively on home turf, with only 11 league goals conceded this term, but they have also struggled to find the net at home - scoring just 11 goals in the Campeonato Brasileiro.

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Unlike their opponents, Ceara enter the contest in a rich vein of form after winning four of their previous five fixtures.

They currently occupy a Copa Sudamericana place, but if they can finish the season strongly then a position in the top six is not out of the question.

After winning 2-1 against Sport Recife last weekend, Ceara continued on an upward trajectory with a 4-0 thrashing over their local rivals Fortaleza.

Lima opened the scoring before Vinicius bagged a brace and the rout was completed in stoppage time, when Yony Gonzalez got on the scoresheet.

Tiago Nunes will hope that they can take confidence from that performance, with Ceara aiming to collect just their second away victory of the season.

Team News

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Andre Luis missed Atletico Goianiense's last game due to suspension, but the forward is expected to come back into the starting lineup for Saturday.

Meanwhile, Eder returned to the side in midweek, and he will partner Pedro Henrique in the centre of defence.

Erick is absent for Ceara with a thigh problem, while injuries also keep Wendson and Vitor Jacare out of the side.

Buiu is another absentee, with the defender set to miss the remainder of the season with a knee injury.

After scoring three goals in his last two appearances, Vinicius will be looking to continue his fine goalscoring run on Saturday.

Atletico Goianiense possible starting lineup:
Miguel; Dudu, Eder, Henrique, Carius; Maranhao, Freitas, Paulo; Janderson, Ronald, Luis

Ceara possible starting lineup:
Ricardo; Dias, Messias, Otavio, Pacheco; Fabinho, Sobral, Vinicius; Mendoza, Lima, Jael

We say: Atletico Goianiense 1-1 Ceara

Atletico Goianiense enter the game on the back of consecutive draws, and given the fact that 15 of Ceara's league matches have ended all square, we think that Saturday's encounter will result in the two sides picking up a point apiece.

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