Gremio seek to leave the Brasileiro relegation zone on Sunday when they host Vasco da Gama in a round 20 clash at Arena Conda.
Renato Gaucho's men have avoided losing in consecutive games and hope to make that three without defeat against an opponent still reeling from losing its first league match in six.
Match preview
After a pitiful run of results, Gremio are one game away from matching their longest undefeated league sequence of the season when they host Vasco this weekend.
Gaucho's men went three matches without losing from late June to early July, even if only one victory was secured during that encouraging period.
That run of five points from nine preceded a three-match losing run in which zero goals were scored while six were conceded, and Imortal Tricolor aim to avoid the same this time.
After losing three matches on the trot in front of their supporters in June, the 2-0 reverse against Cruzeiro remains the only blip suffered in the subsequent four fixtures as hosts.
With two of the last four ending in victories and a creditable 2-2 draw against title-chasing Palmeiras also included, Gaucho hopes his men draw inspiration from the seeming improvement on home turf to escape relegation danger.
They seek to notch a third win in five at home against a Vasco side that have had a week to assess what went wrong in the defeat by Atletico Mineiro.
Cruzmaltino were backed to at least avoid losing to extend their undefeated top-flight run to six, only to concede twice to the irrepressible Hulk in the 2-0 reverse that inflicted the team's first defeat since Bahia at the backend of June.
The upshot of that defeat means that aspirations to push for a top-six finish have been dealt a short-term hit, with Rafael Paiva's men now nine points shy of Sao Paulo in sixth having played one game fewer.
Given the outstanding game, the away side know a similar winning run would put them back in the conversation for the coveted spots, but that outcome is contingent on how swiftly Paiva's side refocus after last week's loss.
While 11th-placed Vasco (23 points) cannot slide lower than 12th regardless of this weekend's events, they hope to notch a win that could take them into eighth — above Mineiro, Bragantino and Athletico Paranaense (all on 25 points) — instead of fearing that they could be leapfrogged by clubs below them.
Team News
Despite not coming off the bench, Pedro Geromel's booking against Corinthians rules out the Gremio centre-back of this weekend's match.
The home side are unlikely to be without former Chelsea striker Diego Costa (muscle), Andre Henrique (ankle) and the pair of Lucas Mila and Jhonata Robert, who have knee injuries.
After coming off the bench in last week's loss to Mineiro, Philippe Coutinho could start for the first time for Vasco this weekend.
The away side are expected to be without Dimitri Payet (thigh) and the trio of Guilherme Estrella, Joao Victor and Paulinho Paula, whose knee problems could keep them out for a few more weeks.
Gremio possible starting lineup:
Marchesin; Pedro, Ely, Jemerson, Reinaldo; Edenilson, Carballo, Villasanti; Pavon, Cristaldo, Soteldo
Vasco da Gama possible starting lineup:
Jardim; Henrique, Maicon, Leo, Piton; Moura, Carvalho; Adson, Coutinho, David; Vegetti
We say: Gremio 1-1 Vasco da Gama
Last year's runners-up have had a dispiriting season, but Gaucho's side have found some form on their turf lately, and that should stand the hosts in good stead this weekend when they host a team that could fall back into old habits after losing to Mineiro last weekend.
The spoils could be shared with neither side taking significant risks.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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