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

Atletico Goianiense are looking to record back-to-back wins in the Brasileiro for the first time since the beginning of June, when they host Chapecoense on Saturday.

The visitors have not recorded a single victory in the league this season, and Pintado's new side are currently 12 points adrift of safety at the foot of the table.

Match preview

Eduardo Barroca's side hold seventh spot in the Brasileiro after 16 fixtures have been played, but they are within touching distance of Flamengo and Athletico Paranaense, who currently occupy the Copa Libertadores qualification positions.

Atletico GO will be wary of the chasing pack as Bahia, who sit just outside the Copa Sudamericana places, are just five points behind them, and with the whole of the second half of the season to be completed, the Goias-based side must continue to put daylight between the sides.

Victory last time out helped them do exactly that, after Gilberto had given Bahia the lead, Ze Roberto and Joao Paulo sealed three points away from home against the side knocking on the door for a top-12 finish.

Atletico GO are the lowest scorers in the Brasiliero's top 11 sides so far this campaign, failing to score more than two goals in one match all season.

With Saturday's clash being a home match for Atletico GO, they will be keen to improve their form at the Estadio Antonio Accioly, after picking up just nine points in Goias out of a possible 21 to date.

Chapecoense's new manager Pintado has now overseen two fixtures since taking over from Jair Ventura at the beginning of this month, and last time out the side did record their first point in the league since the end of June.

Centre-back Kadu left his side with it all to do against fellow relegation-threatened America MG as he was sent off after 64 minutes, but his teammates thought that they had managed to pick up their first win of the domestic season when Anderson Leite scored three minutes from time.

However, the away side equalised deep into stoppage time to share the spoils in the bottom-of-the-table clash, and Chapecoense's wait for their first three points continues.

Despite late disappointment for Pintado and his team, after eight straight defeats, the draw on Tuesday would have felt like a step in the right direction.

Chapecoense may feel this game on Saturday will be a tough ask to pick up any points given their hosts' league position, however their next game is against Sport Recife, who are also in the relegation zone, and so a positive performance this weekend should set them up well to gain something from that game.

Team News

Atletico GO left-back Igor has been sidelined since July 22 when he picked up a calf injury against Cuiaba, and despite being close to a return to action, he is expected to miss out this weekend.

Marlon Freitas will also be an absentee for the home side as he continues his recovery from a foot injury. Willian Moraes and Gabriel Baralhas are expected to start in the middle of the pitch for Atletico GO.

Goalkeeper Fernando Miguel has been in fine form all season, keeping seven clean sheets which puts him up towards the top of the Golden Gloves' table.

Chapecoense have a number of players currently in the physio room and all with longer-term injuries, including goalkeeper Tiepo, who will be out for the rest of the season with a knee injury.

Denner, Ignacio and Ronei could all make their comebacks at the beginning of September, so Saturday's game comes much too early for them, while Felipe Santana will have to wait until December before he can return to play.

Experienced defender Kadu will begin his suspension on Saturday after receiving a straight red card last time out. Laercio could come into the starting lineup in Kadu's absence.

Atletico Goianiense possible starting lineup:
Miguel; Natanael, Eder, Wanderson, Duda; Moraes, Barahlas; Janderson, Paulo, Arnaldo; Roberto

Chapecoense possible starting lineup:
Keiller; Busanello, Laercio, Jordan, Ribeiro; Leite, Santos, Ribeiro; Fernandinho, Anselmo, Geuvanio

We say: Atletico Goianiense 2-1 Chapecoense

Chapecoense will be desperate to build on the point which they earned last time out and under new manager Pintado, the visitors could pose a threat to the home side.

However, given the sides' league positions, Atletico GO should overcome anything their visitors throw at them and have enough quality to perpetrate a defence which has conceded the most goals in the Brasileiro this season.