Fortaleza may be favourites to record a fourth straight Brasileiro win against struggling Atletico Goianiense, but the in-form side must be wary of complacency in the round 18 match at Estadio Castelao on Sunday.
The hosts could rise into the top four spots if results elsewhere go their way while the second-bottom side could replace Fluminense at the foot of the standings at the gameweek's conclusion.
Match preview
Having notched triumphs over Fluminense (1-0), Flamengo (2-1) and Vitoria (3-1), Fortaleza seek a fourth straight win in the competition.
Defeating cellar-dwelling Fluminense and fourth-bottom Vitoria showcased the home side's competence against the lowly sides in the top division, and they aim for another positive outcome against their struggling visitors.
Juan Pablo Vojvoda's men are enjoying a rich vein of form, so much so that losing to in-form Vasco da Gama at the start of the month turned out to be a bump in the road.
Excluding that result, Tricolor have secured 15 points from the last available 18, and the seventh-placed club sit one point behind a Sao Paulo side occupying the coveted final slot for direct Copa Libertadores qualification.
While the home side (29 points) have set their sights on leapfrogging Cruzeiro (29), Bahia and Sao Paulo (both have 30 points), they must not underrate an opponent as desperate as Atletico Goianiense.
Nearly every recent opponent has been happy to face the second-bottom outfit, whose four-match losing run and eight-game winless sequence point to eventual relegation.
Vagner Mancini was named permanent boss at the start of July, but the new man at the helm has so far failed to bring about a turnaround for Dragao.
The 19th-placed side have not secured maximum points since defeating bottom Fluminense on June 16, while their last victory against a side currently above them in the standings came against fellow strugglers Vitoria at the start of last month.
Those victories against equally off-form sides are the only two Dragao have notched since gaining promotion, underscoring the challenge facing Mancini, whose remit to beat the drop appears bleak despite being four points from safety.
Another defeat could see Atletico Goianiense fall to 20th, albeit contingent on Fluminense winning and Dragao losing for a fifth game running.
Team News
Only Juan Lucero (two goals) has appeared on the Fortaleza scoresheet more than once across the ongoing winning run, perhaps showcasing the home side's variety of match-winners.
With every player involved against Vitoria seemingly coming out unscathed, Pedro Rocha, Ze Welison (both have thigh issues), Calebe (muscle) and Emmanuel Martinez (knee) remain the absentees for Sunday.
Bruno Tubarao and Pedro Henrique are the away side's injury worries, with both suffering thigh problems.
Mancini could name an unchanged side against the seventh-placed opponents, with no new reported physical issues coming to light.
Fortaleza possible starting lineup:
Ricardo; Tinga, Britez, Titi, Jonatan; Hercules, Rossetto; Pikachu, Pochettino, Lopes; Lucero
Atletico Goianiense possible starting lineup:
Ronaldo; Maguinho, Martins, Vinicius, Romao; Rhaldney, Kal, Shaylon; Janderson, Hurtado, Fernando
We say: Fortaleza 2-0 Atletico Goianiense
Atletico Goianiense's only victories since gaining promotion have been against fellow strugglers, underlining their inadequacy against top-level opposition.
While stranger things have happened, Fortaleza should avoid any embarrassment against Dragao to notch a fourth consecutive league victory.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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