Ceara take on Fortaleza in one of Wednesday's Copa do Brasil clashes, with the visitors looking to hold onto their 2-0 lead from the first leg.

Both sides are languishing in the relegation zone in Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A, so a cup run could prove to be a welcome distraction for whichever of these local rivals progresses into the quarter-finals.

Match preview

Ceara have never won Brazil's main domestic cup in their entire history, with a 1-0 defeat to Gremio in the 1994 final representing their best ever effort.

However, having come through three rounds already to reach the last 16 of this year's competition, there was real belief building that 2022 could be Vozao's year in which their duck is finally broken.

Those hopes were largely scuppered by a first-leg 2-0 defeat to Fortaleza three weeks ago, though, with Yago Pikachu's brace firmly putting their opponents in the box seat in the tie.

Marquinhos Santos's side will surely need an early goal on Wednesday if they are to have any realistic hope of reaching the quarter-finals, otherwise their sole focus is likely to be on escaping the drop from Serie A.

While Fortaleza's first-leg victory against their local rivals undoubtedly reduced the mounting pressure building on manager Juan Pablo Vojvoda, the 47-year-old will be acutely aware his side's league form must improve if his job is to be saved.

After a superb 2021 campaign saw the Argentinian lead Leao do Pici to a fourth-placed finish - their highest ever finish in Brazil's top flight and consequently the first time they had qualified for the Copa Libertadores - as well as a semi-final appearance in Copa do Brasil, Fortaleza's form has sunk like a stone.

For a club of their size and historical standing, maintaining last season's form was always going to be difficult. However, to be rock-bottom in Serie A after 16 games is quite the fall from grace.

Ensuring his players do not succumb to the heavy pressure Ceara's players and fans alike are likely to put on them in their forthcoming second leg is surely imperative for Vojvoda to begin to turn his team's season around.

Team News

Aside from forward Erick, who is likely to be absent until at least August due to a collarbone injury, Santos appears to have a clean bill of health to select from for Wednesday's tie.

The 43-year-old could opt to select the same XI which performed admirably despite a 2-1 defeat to in-form Fluminense at the weekend.

Fortaleza, on the other hand, have a couple of injury concerns, with Anthony Landazuri, Robson and Tinga all likely to be ruled out for at least another couple of weeks.

Vojvoda may choose to reward the same XI which defeated Ceara 2-0 only a few weeks ago, with Pikachu potentially proving a pivotal figure once again.

Ceara possible starting lineup:
Ricardo; Michel, Messias, Otavio, Pacheco; Lindoso, Richard; Iury, Mendoza, Lima, Vinicius

Fortaleza possible starting lineup:
Boeck; Ceballos, Benevenuto, Titi; Pikachu, Welison, Felipe, Capixaba; Ronald, Fernandes, Romero

We say: Ceara 1-0 Fortaleza

We expect Ceara to use their home advantage to help them record a morale-boosting victory against their struggling local rivals.

However, the hosts may have left themselves with too much work to do in terms of progressing to the quarter-finals, with Fortaleza favourites to hold on.

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