On Saturday, November 4, Coritiba and Avaí will play a game with decision characteristics in the fight to avoid relegation to Serie B. For the thirty-second round of the Brazilian Championship 2017 edition, the game will be held at the stadium Couto Pereira , in Curitiba, from 21h (Brasília time).
Coritiba’s recent performance
After spending a long season in the relegation zone, Coritiba managed to leave the group of the last four with an epic victory against Sport in Recife. The match, which had two turns, was decided by a goal in the final seconds that gave the win by 4 to 3 to the paranaenses.
It was the third game in a row that the alvverde was able to score. Before that, he tied for 1 to 1 with Vasco and beat Cruzeiro in Curitiba by 1-0. He got 35 points (nine wins, eight draws and 14 losses) to occupy the sixteenth place on the Brazilian Championship standings table, the first outside the relegation zone.
Although it gives some relief to fans and players, the situation is still far from being considered comfortable. Ponte Preta (seventeenth) and Avaí (eighteenth) have the same Coritiba score, which only takes advantage of when the tiebreaker criteria are used.
Owner of the fourth worst attack of the Brasileirão with 32 goals scored, Thigh must count with an important reinforcement for the sector. Veteran Kleber the Gladiator is most likely to be related to the game against Avaí. Recovered from a knee injury, the player who had also lost the team in 15 games due to suspension, was considered for Sport’s match. However, because he did not feel in perfect condition, he asked to be left out.
It has gained another week to improve your fitness and can even start the game. That’s because the center-forward Henrique Almeida is suspended due to the accumulation of yellow cards. German midfielder Alexander Baumjohann, who was out of the game in Recife due to muscle damage, is another that is unfit to play.
The current form of Avaí
The Santa Catarina also managed to score in the last three rounds. However, not with the same quality of Coritiba performance in the period. It was two draws and one win. On the previous day, he had a great chance to stay out of the relegation zone when facing, at home, the Grêmio, who sent a reserve team to the match. He was twice at a disadvantage on the scoreboard and ended up having to settle for a 2-2 draw.
The disappointment of the fans is compensated when the Avaí campaign is analyzed as a visitor. With 17 points (five wins, two draws and eight losses), the team is the tenth best in that area. That is, if only games away from their domains were accounted for, relegation would not be a threat.
Needing the victory to get out of the region of the sticking, the Avaí probably will have the side Leandro Silva, author of the second goal in the match against Grêmio. With muscle pain, he was spared training throughout the week, but is not considered a problem and should be released to face the thigh.
The only modification in the team to happen in the midfield. With João Paulo, suspended, Capa must win the spot among the starters.
History of the bouts between Coritiba and Avaí
Coritiba have won half of their 10 games against Avaí in the Brazilian’s main division. This ratio includes the 4-1 victory in the first round of the 2017 edition of the tournament. The Santa Catarina won three games and the draws were two.
PREDICTION: Avaí win @ 5.50
