Preview: Athletico Paranaense vs. Sport Recife - prediction, team news, lineups

Sport Recife travel to Arena da Baixada on Sunday, hopeful of staging an upset against Athletico Paranaense to escape the relegation places.

While the home side suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat to Palmeiras in their previous league match, Sport Recife managed to salvage a goalless draw against basement club Chapecoense.

Match preview

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Quick off the blocks, Athletico Paranense began the campaign in bright fashion, winning six of their opening eight matches, as they quickly made their title intentions known to the rest of the division.

However, Furacao have since suffered a dip in form, causing them to fall off the pace in the title race, as they currently sit in ninth place, 16 points adrift of the summit.

Paranaense, whose current realistic ambition will be a top-six finish, have lost each of their previous five games in a row, and are in dire need of a resurgence.

Prior to their first leg 1-1 draw against Cascavel in the semi-finals of the Campeonato Paranaense, Antonio Oliveira's men were handed a 2-1 league defeat to Palmeiras to pile on their misery.

Having garnered 23 points from 17 games, Furacao are four points shy of the Copa Libertadores places, and will be seeking victory in this weekend's fixture to keep within touching distance of the teams above them.

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With a game against struggling Sport Recife on the horizon, Paranaense will feel confident about their chances of recording a positive result against the side who are second from bottom in the table.

Sport may be floundering in the relegation places, but they are only two points away from safety, and a decent run of form over the coming weeks could see them turn their fortunes around.

Following the sacking of erstwhile manager Umberto Louzer, Gustavo Florentin has been appointed to take over the reins at Ilha do Retiro, and the Paraguayan will hope to get his tenure off to a winning start.

On the last matchday, Lion failed to assert their dominance over Chapecoense and were forced to head home with only a point in the bag after playing out a goalless draw - in a game where Thiago Neves picked up a red card.

For all their struggles this term, Sport hold the second-best defensive record in the Brasileiro, having conceded only 14 goals so far, while keeping eight clean sheets in the process.

Team News

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After suffering an ACL injury earlier in the season, Paranaense's Matheus Babi is out for the rest of the campaign.

The 24-year-old forward is joined by Lucas Halter on the sidelines, as he continues his own recuperation from a knee injury.

Oliveira opted to rest David Terans and Guilherme Bissoli for their previous cup game, both of whom are expected to be recalled to the starting lineup here.

Having been given his marching orders by the referee in Sport Recife's previous game, Thiago Neves is suspended and should be replaced by Everton Felipe in midfield.

Thiago Lopes, Rafael Thyere, Neilton and Joao Igor are sidelined with injuries and out of contention for this weekend's clash.

Athletico Paranaense possible starting lineup:
Santos; Abner, J. Ivaldo, Henrique, Marcinho; Christian, Richard; Barbosa, Terans, Cittadini; Bissoli

Sport Recife possible starting lineup:
Maylson; Hayner, Santana, Sabino, Sander; Welison, Hernanes; Do Amaral, Felipe, Gustavo; De Sousa

We say: Athletico Paranaense 1-1 Sport Recife

This fixture is between two teams in poor form, and in desperate need of a recovery, with Athletico Paranaense holding home advantage and hopeful of using it to good effect.

However, Sport are under new management and likely to be buoyed by the recent change in personnel as everyone hopes to impress Florentin. With this in mind, we can see the visitors doing just about enough to nick a point.