Atletico Mineiro and Vasco da Gama are separated by two places in the Brasileiro standings heading into Sunday's round 18 match at Arena MRV.
The home side could leapfrog their in-form visitors by notching maximum points, but that will be daunting against a side that are unbeaten in nearly a month.
Match preview
After losing two games on the trot, avoiding a defeat in back-to-back matches for Gabriel Milito's men should count as progress.
A 2-1 win over Sao Paulo last weekend and a 1-1 draw with Juventude in midweek point to a turnaround, and Milito hopes his players sustain those improved levels against in-form Vasco.
The Argentine was undoubtedly pleased to have ended a five-match winless sequence on their turf against Sao Paulo, and the hosts seek consecutive league wins at their stomping ground for the first time since the backend of 2023.
There has been no pattern to Galo's results this term, with five victories, seven draws and four losses highlighting the home side's wider inconsistency since Milito replaced Luiz Felipe Scolari in March.
Atletico Mineiro head into Sunday's encounter keen to show the best version of themselves against an opponent that has claimed four straight victories.
Vasco may have taken the scenic route, but returning to Rafael Paiva after the failed involvement with Alvaro Pacheco is paying dividends, with the caretaker boss in charge of the ongoing sequence of wins.
Cruzmaltino are undefeated in five matches (four wins) and the ongoing streak is built on a sturdy backline that has kept clean sheets against Fortaleza (2-0), Corinthians (2-0) and Atletico Goianiense (1-0).
The latter was Vasco's first road shutout this season and second consecutive win on their travels after losing six straight away matches at the season's commencement.
Another clean sheet may not be high on Paiva's agenda this weekend; rather, a third consecutive road triumph will be, a feat Vasco have not achieved since 2012 when they defeated Fluminense (2-1), Portuguesa (1-0) and Bahia (2-1).
While Vasco cannot rise higher than eighth this weekend, losing would see them leapfrogged by their opponents.
Team News
Rodrigo Battaglia was suspended against Juventude, but the central midfielder is back in contention for a start on Sunday.
Guilherme Arana received a booking on Thursday that rules out the left-back on Sunday as he serves a ban.
Junior Alonso will be monitored after going off with a seeming injury late on against Juventude, meaning the defender could join Everson (finger), Matias Zaracho (groin), Mariano (thigh), Mauricio Lemos (muscle) and Alisson Santana (ankle) on the treatment table.
Philippe Coutinho is a new signing at Vasco, but the former Liverpool and Barcelona playmaker is not expected to play any part as he is yet to get up to speed.
Dimitri Payet (thigh), Guilherme Estrella, Joao Victor and Paulinho Paula (all have knee injuries) are still absent for the visitors.
Atletico Mineiro possible starting lineup:
Mendes; Romulo, Rabello, Fuchs, Saravia; Otavio, Franco; Scarpa, Bernard, Paulinho; Hulk
Vasco da Gama possible starting lineup:
Jardim; Henrique, Maicon, Leo, Piton; Moura, Carvalho; Adson, Praxedes, David; Vegetti
We say: Atletico Mineiro 1-1 Vasco da Gama
With Milito's men dealing with absences in defence, Sunday's outcome depends on how swiftly the hosts adapt to the Argentine's changes. We are backing the away side to nick a point at Arena MRV to extend their undefeated run against Mineiro to four.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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