Preview: Ceara vs. Fluminense - prediction, team news, lineups

Ceara will have their sights set on breaking into a Copa Sudamericana position, but they must also be wary of dropping into the relegation playoff spot, as they currently sit one point behind 12th place and four points above 17th in the Brasileiro.

Fluminense, meanwhile, are just two points behind a Copa Libertadores qualification spot, sitting eighth as the table stands, meaning that Sunday's clash between Ceara and Fluminense is set up to be an exciting encounter.

Match preview

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Ceara are not in brilliant form heading into this weekend's match, having won just once in their last 14 games and they are currently on a seven-game winless run.

Tiago Nunes's side recorded their 15th draw of the season - the most out of any other team in Brazil's top flight - last time out against Bahia, a game which ended 1-1.

A positive from that match on Thursday was that winger Stiven Mendoza scored his first league goal of the season after making 19 Brasileiro appearances this campaign.

The fact that Ceara did not manage to claim three points against Bahia does not come as a surprise, considering that Nunes's side have not won an away match all term after 14 attempts.

They will be glad to be back on home soil this weekend, as they have only lost twice in Fortaleza this season and collected over 72% of their points on their own patch.

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Fluminense are perhaps not currently sitting in a Copa Libertadores position because they have been unable to win three games in a row all season, and that continued as they suffered defeat last time out.

After two consecutive victories against Athletico Paranaense and Flamengo, Fluminense fell to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of relegation-threatened Santos on Wednesday.

Drawing a blank in front of goal also means that Marcao's side have failed to score in four of their last six games and they have not scored more goals than any of the teams above them in the league.

Despite not winning three games in a row, Fluminense have also not lost back-to-back league games since July, which proposes that the away side are unlikely to lose on Sunday.

The last encounter between Ceara and Fluminense ended in a goalless draw in July, but the home side on that day, Fluminense, did dominate possession of the ball and created more chances.

Team News

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Ceara striker Cleber only entered the field of play in the 71st minute last time out against Bahia, but he was dismissed from the action just 12 minutes later after receiving two yellow cards and he will serve his suspension this weekend.

Buiu, Vitor Jacare and Wendson all continue to be sidelined due to injury, but that should not affect Nunes's team selection too much having not had the trio of players available for some while already.

The home side could lineup in a 4-4-2 formation, with Vinicius leading the line alongside Jael, as Mendoza and Erick provide the width from midfield.

Both John Kennedy and Nonato are suspended for Fluminense this weekend, and they join a whole host of players who are unavailable for the visitors due to injury.

Hudson, Nino, Paulo Ganso, Gabriel Teixeira and Fred are all expected to continue to be absent from the matchday squad, though Ganso is nearing his return to action after recovering from a broken arm.

Apart from Abel Hernandez coming into the lineup in place of Kennedy, the rest of the starting team is likely to remain the same as last time, with Yago and Andre continuing in the middle of the pitch.

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

Fluminense possible starting lineup:
Felipe; Marlon, Claro, Braz, Samuel; Yago, Andre; Henrique, Arias, Paulista; Hernandez

We say: Ceara 1-1 Fluminense

Ceara are the draw specialists in the Brasileiro this season, and with Fluminense's inconsistencies, Sunday's encounter is set up to end in another point for each side.

With 10 games to play, no team will want to lose ground at this stage of the season, and with both of these two teams having it all still to play for, it could be a cagey affair.