Copa Libertadores finalists Palmeiras will travel to Ceara on Wednesday in the Campeonato Brasileiro, and the visitors will enter the fixture in fourth place.

Meanwhile, Ceara are in a precarious position, with only three points separating themselves and the relegation zone.

Match preview

Ceara occupy 13th position and find themselves three points above the relegation zone, although they will also be aware that they are a point adrift of a Copa Sudamericana spot.

The hosts have only lost one of their last six games, however in that period they have collected four draws, and Ceara enter Wednesday's fixture having drawn their previous two games.

Although, their most recent fixture would have felt like a win, with Bragantino looking on course to win 2-0 at the weekend, but two goals in additional time clinched a dramatic point for Ceara - Fabricio Bruno scored an own goal to give Tiago Nunes's side a lifeline, before Gabriel Lacerda equalised in the eighth minute of stoppage time.

If Ceara are to move away from danger then they will need to start converting draws into victories, with 13 of their 25 league games ending all square.

Nunes will be confident heading into the encounter, knowing that his team have only lost once on home turf in the Campeonato Brasileiro this term.

Palmeiras head into the game in fourth position, with 43 points to their name, and Wednesday's visitors will look to cement their place in the top four.

Abel Ferreira's side will be boosted by ending a five-game winless league run at the weekend, when they won a close-fought contest with Internacional.

In that encounter, Palmeiras were awarded a penalty in the 52nd minute and Raphael Veiga dispatched the spot kick to give his side an important victory.

Palmeiras have shown some defensive fragility this season, conceding 32 league goals, but they have offset that weakness by finding the net at will, scoring 38 times in the Campeonato Brasileiro.

Veiga has been an important player in that regard, scoring his sixth league goal of the season at the weekend, and he will be a crucial player for the away side on Wednesday if they are to clinch all three points.

Team News

Ceara are still without Wendson and Gabriel Dias, who are both out due to injury.

Vitor Jacare and Buiu are also unavailable through injury, and both players are absent for an extended period.

Lima came on at half time in the Bragantino clash, and the 25-year-old could come into the starting lineup for Wednesday.

Palmeiras saw Weverton, Joaquin Piquerez and Gustavo Gomez all return from international duty to start the encounter with Internacional, and the trio will all start on Wednesday.

However, the visitors will be without Mayke and Gabriel Menino, who are out with knee and ankle problems respectively.

Danilo is also missing for the away side due to injury.

Ceara possible starting lineup:
Richard; Igor, Messias, Lacerda, Pacheco; Sobral, Marlon, Vinicius; Erick, Lima, Cleber

Palmeiras possible starting lineup:
Weverton; Rocha, Gomez, Luan, Piquerez; Rony, Melo, Ze Rafael, Dudu; Adriano, Veiga

We say: Ceara 2-2 Palmeiras

Ceara have proved to be a tough opponent on home soil, and they enter Wednesday's fixture on an unbeaten home league run of 11 games.

Palmeiras are winless in their last three away league games, and we think given that Ceara's last two home games have ended all square that this encounter will also result in a draw.

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