Having experienced contrasting fortunes in midweek, Atletico Goianiense and Sao Paulo meet at Estadio Antonio Accioly on Sunday.
The teams are separated by just two points in the Brasileiro Seria A standings, and both aim to give their bid of a top-six spot a boost with their fifth league win of the season.
Atletico GO endured a less productive midweek encounter, and have put themselves on the back foot before the return leg of their Copa Sudamericana tie with Paraguay’s Olimpia.
Having slipped to a 2-0 defeat in Asincion on Thursday, they have plenty of work to do if they are to resurrect hopes of a quarter-final place in South America’s secondary tournament, and they are now winless in their last three matches.
The Goias state side have won three from four league matches before being held to a Copa do Brasil stalemate by local rivals Goias, and they have since followed up last weekend’s 1-1 draw against Ceara with a loss on Thursday.
As Jorginho’s side sit amid a tightly-packed section of the league standings, a return to winning ways would get them back on track for bettering last year’s ninth-placed finish.
After claiming just six points from as many games during a sticky patch in the Brasileiro, Sao Paulo at least have a foot in the Copa Sudamericana quarter-finals following Thursday’s events.
They raced into a three-goal lead during the first leg of their last-16 tie with Universidad Catolica, and despite dropping to eight men and conceding twice after the interval, they hold a 4-2 advantage towards the home leg later this month.
Now a decade on from the club’s last major national or continental trophy, Sao Paulo have already seen hopes of mounting a sustained challenge for Brasileiro glory decimated by inconsistency, and they currently trail first-placed Palmeiras by a 10-point margin.
Atletico Goianiense vs Sao Paulo head to head
The two teams have previously met on 12 occasions, where Goianiense have claimed four victories while Sao Paulo have won five, and they have drawn in three. Goianiense have scored 18 goals and conceded 19 in the process. In their last five meetings, Sao Paulo have won three and Goianiense two.
Atletico Goianiense 0-1 Sao Paulo 05/11/17
Sao Paulo 3-0 Atletico Goianiense 08/10/20
Atletico Goianiense 2-1 Sao Paulo 31/01/21
Atletico Goianiense 2-0 Sao Paulo 06/06/21
Sao Paulo 2-1 Atletico Goianiense 19/09/21
Atletico Goianiense latest home form
Atletico Goianiense have recently been on a relatively good run of form at home, having lost just one of their six most recent matches. They drew 0-0 with Goias in their last home game in the Copa do Brasil. In their last five matches, they have scored seven goals and conceded three.
Atletico Goianiense 2-0 Coritiba 21/05/22
Atletico Goianiense 0-1 Corinthians 05/06/22
Atletico Goianiense 2-1 Avai 09/06/22
Atletico Goianiense 3-1 Juventude 20/06/22
Atletico Goianiense 0-0 Goias 23/06/22
Atletico Goianiense latest away form
Atletico Goianiense have recently failed to keep a good run of form on the road, having won just one of their seven most recent matches. They lost 2-0 to Olimpia in their last away game in the Copa Sudamericana. In their last five matches, they have scored six goals and conceded eight.
Internacional 1-1 Atletico Goianiense 31/05/22
Fluminense 0-2 Atletico Goianiense 12/06/22
Palmeiras 4-2 Atletico Goianiense 17/06/22
Ceara 1-1 Atletico Goianiense 27/06/22
Olimpia 2-0 Atletico Goianiense 01/07/22
Sao Paulo latest home form
Sao Paulo have recently been on a relatively good run of form at home, having lost just one of their five most recent matches. They drew 0-0 with Juventude in their last home game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored five goals and conceded four.
Sao Paulo 2-2 Ceara 29/05/22
Sao Paulo 1-0 America Mineiro 12/06/22
Sao Paulo 1-2 Palmeiras 21/06/22
Sao Paulo 1-0 Palmeiras 24/06/22
Sao Paulo 0-0 Juventude 27/06/22
Sao Paulo latest away form
Sao Paulo have recently been on a relatively good run of form on the road, having lost just one of their five most recent matches. They defeated Universidad Catolica 4-2 in their last away game in the Copa Sudamericana. In their last five matches, they have scored seven goals and conceded six.
Corinthians 1-1 Sao Paulo 22/05/22
Avai 1-1 Sao Paulo 05/06/22
Coritiba 1-1 Sao Paulo 10/06/22
Botafogo 1-0 Sao Paulo 16/06/22
Universidad Catolic 2-4 Sao Paulo 01/07/22
Atletico Goianiense news
Atletico Goianiense have Edson back from suspension on Sunday after missing Thursday Copa Sudamericana, and Gabriel Baralhas returns from a domestic ban.
Wanderson and Gabriel Noga both recently recovered from injury, and they are set to battle it out for a place at centre-back, while Wellington Rato should support Diego Churin up front.
Sao Paulo news
Rodrigo Nestor, Jonathan Calleri and Igor Vinicius were all sent off in the midweek win in Chile, but all three are available on Sunday as their bans relate to continental competition only.
Alisson, Robert Arboleda, Gabriel Sara, Luan and Caio are all absent with injuries, but Luciano should partner Calleri up front.
Prediction and Odds
Heading into the contest without an away win in the league this season, Sao Paulo will be looking to end their drought by claiming all three points.
Off the back of a spirited cup performance in trying circumstance, they could prove a tough team to beat for hosts Atletico Goianiense.
Odds: 1 2.32 X 2.10 2 1.89
Probable outcomes
Atletico Goianiense 0-1 Sao Paulo
Atletico Goianiense 0-2 Sao Paulo
Atletico Goianiense 1-2 Sao Paulo
Atletico Goianiense 0-0 Sao Paulo
Atletico Goianiense 1-1 Sao Paulo
