Fluminense will face off against Botafogo in the Brazil Serie A on Thursday, July 13. The home side will be hoping to take advantage of playing in their own background against a team that is three places below them on the log standings.
Atletico Paranaense will host Cruzeiro in a league encounter. This match promises to be a tough battle between the two sides as the home side are looking to move away from the 14th position.
Corinthians will play away as they face Palmeiras. Corinthians are on an unbeaten streak and will be looking to continue with their positive form, however the home side will not be a walkover.
Atletico Mineiro and Santos will go head-to-head on Thursday evening in a league battle. The two teams are both in good form and this promises to be a feast for the supporters.
Independiente will play off against Deprtes Iquique. Deportes are not in the best of forms as compared to the unbeaten streak of the home side.
Fluminense v Botafogo (Brazilian Serie A)
FIFA rankings: Fluminense 7th Botafogo 10th
Useful facts: A must-win encounter for either team, who are just a single point apart from one another in what is turning out to be a highly competitive season in Brazil. Fluminense have drawn their last three matches in the league and will not feel confident against an opponent that they have failed to beat on three occasions in their last six head-to-head encounters.
Tshegofatso Mabaso: Fluminense
Atletico Paranaense v Cruzeiro (Brazilian Serie A)
FIFA rankings: Atletico 14th Cruzeiro 6th
Useful facts: Atletico will be motivated by the fact that they are only two points behind their rivals and a win could see them jump several places higher on a highly competitive log. However, Cruzeiro do have three wins from their last six against Atletico, but just one of those six came away from home.
Tshegofatso Mabaso: Cruzeiro
Palmeiras v Corinthians (Brazilian Serie A)
League rankings: Palmeiras 6th Corinthians 1st
Useful facts: Even though Corinthians are in spectacular form, being on a 12-match unbeaten streak, it's Palmeiras – who have won four of their last five – that have had the better record in their last six head-to-head encounters, with four wins to Corinthians' one.
Tshegofatso Mabaso: Corinthians
Atletico Mineiro v Santos (Brazilian Serie A)
League rankings: Atletico 8th Santos 4th
Useful facts: In the last six meetings between these two, Santos have the upper hand with three wins to Atletico's two. Yet, both sides are completely level on form, with both of them undefeated in five of their last six games in the league.
Tshegofatso Mabaso: Santos
Independiente v Deportes Iquique (Copa Sudamericana)
League rankings: Independiente 6th (Argentinean Primera Division) Deportes 6th (Chilean Clausura)
Useful facts: Independiente have kept a clean sheet in their last six Copa Sudamericana matches and are undefeated in the competition in their last seven. However, just three wins from their last six in all competitions shows that they can be beaten. Yet, it looks unlikely that it will be Deportes, who have only won one game in their last six.
Tshegofatso Mabaso: Independiente
