Atletico Goianiense set out in search of their first win of the Brasileiro Serie A campaign when they take on Gremio at the Stadium Antonio Accioly on Wednesday.
The Immortal Tricolor are on a run of six back-to-back league defeats and will head into the midweek clash looking to end this dry spell and get their campaign back on track.
Match preview
Atletico Goianiense continue to struggle for results at the bottom end of the table as they played out a goalless draw with Cuiaba at the Arena Pantanal on Saturday.
A total of 28 shots were fired in the game but both sides were guilty of a lack of cutting edge in attack as neither goalkeeper would end up picking the ball out of the back of the net, with a draw being a fair result upon reflection.
Atletico Goianiense have now failed to win four of their last five outings — losing twice and claiming two draws — with a 2-1 victory over Fluminense at the Maracana on June 16 being the exception.
Anderson Gomes's men have picked up nine points from their 11 Serie A matches this season to sit 16th in the league table, level on points with 17th-placed Vitoria and three points above Wednesday's visitors.
Goianiense's poor start to the campaign has been down to their struggles on home turf, where they have failed to win their five league matches so far, claiming just one point from a possible 15.
Gremio, on the other hand, were left empty-handed once again as they suffered a 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Internacional when the sides squared off last weekend.
Following a goalless first half at the Couto Pereira Stadium, 21-year-old defender Gustavo Martins scored a 64th-minute own goal to gift the visitors their fifth Serie A win of the season.
Renato Portaluppi's side picked up two wins in their opening three Serie A matches but have since lost each of their subsequent six games in what has been a difficult spell for the two-time champions.
Having scored just six goals this season, and two in their last six outings, Gremio's poor start to the season has been owing to their struggles in attack, a key area needing improvement if they are to surge from the doldrums.
Team News
Goianiense will take to the pitch without 27-year-old goalkeeper Ronaldo, who is set to serve the second of his three-game suspension after picking up a straight red card in the game against Criciuma on June 19.
In his absence, Fluminense loanee Pedro Rangel should start between the sticks once again, while we expect an unchanged front three of Luiz Fernando, Emiliano Rodriguez and 27-year-old Shaylon.
Skipper Pedro Henrique was forced off injured just before the half-time break against Cuiaba at the weekend and the 31-year-old is a major doubt for Wednesday's hosts.
He is joined on the club's injury table by experienced midfielder Gustavo Campanharo, who has been sidelined since January through a severe knee problem.
Gremio will have to make do without the services of Mathias Villasanti and striker Yeferson Soteldo, who are currently at the ongoing Copa America with Paraguay and Venezuela respectively.
On the injury front, the visitors will be without former Chelsea and Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa, who is currently recuperating from a muscle injury while Jhonata Robert continues his lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering a knee injury in February.
Andre Henrique has been out of action since March due to an ankle injury, while striker 21-year-old midfielder Lucas Mila remains out of contention through an ACL injury.
Atletico Goianiense possible starting lineup:
Rangel; Maguinho, Martins, Pedrao, Romao; Kal, Baralhas, Norberto; Shaylon, Fernando, Rodriguez
Gremio possible starting lineup:
Marchesin; Pedro, Geromel, Martins, Reinaldo; Dodi, Carballo; Cristaldo, Pavon, Everton; Gomes
We say: Atletico Goianiense 2-1 Gremio
While Goianiense have struggled for consistency in recent weeks, they are favourites to claim all three points against an out-of-sorts Gremio side who have lost their last six league matches. We predict a cagey affair at the Stadium Antonio Accioly, with Gomes's men claiming their first home win of the Serie A campaign.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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