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Athletico Paranaense and Fortaleza will battle for three points in a Brasileirao Serie A matchday 26 fixture on Saturday. The hosts are coming into the game on the back of a penalty shootout defeat to Vasco at the same venue in the Copa do Brasil quarterfinal.
They were trailing 2-1 from the first leg and claimed a 2-1 home win courtesy of goals from Cuello and Bruno Zepelli while Pablo Vegetti halved the deficit in first-half injury time. Vasco progressed courtesy of a 5-4 victory in a penalty shootout.
Rubro-Negro will turn their attention to the league, where their last game saw them suffer a 2-0 defeat at home to Palmeiras.
Fortaleza, meanwhile, fell to a 2-1 defeat away to Internacional in midweek. They went behind to Alan Patrick's 21st-minute strike while Titi drew the game level in first-half injury time. Gustavo Prado stepped off the bench to score the match-winner with six minutes to go.
The loss saw them drop to second spot in the table with 48 points from 25 games. Paranaense are 12th with 29 points to their name.
Athletico Paranaense vs Fortaleza Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
- Athletico Paranaense have eight wins from the last 19 head-to-head games. Fortaleza have five wins to their name, while six games ended in a share of the spoils.
- Their most recent clash came in June 2024 when Fortaleza claimed a 1-0 home win.
- The last five head-to-head games have produced less than three goals.
- Fortaleza are unbeaten in the last six head-to-head games (three wins).
- Paranaense's last 13 games across competitions have produced over 1.5 goals, with seven of their last nine producing at least three goals.
- Paranaense have lost four of their last six games across competitions (two wins).
Athletico Paranaense vs Fortaleza Prediction
Athletico Paranaense will have one eye on their Copa Sudamericana quarterfinal tie with Racing Club. However, they have struggled in the league.
Fortaleza, for their part, lost to Botafogo after in midweek. Tricolor de Aço have a good recent record in this fixture and will be aiming to extend their six-game unbeaten head-to-head run.
We are backing the two sides to share the spoils in a low-scoring stalemate.
Prediction: Athletico Paranaense 1-1 Fortaleza
Athletico Paranaense vs Fortaleza Betting Tips
Tip 1 - Result: Draw
Tip 2 - Both teams to score
Tip 3 - Over 1.5 goals
