Chapecoense vs Vitória – News and Probable Lineups

On Sunday, April 5, at 20:00 BST, Chapecoense will go head to head with Vitória at the Arena Condá in Chapecó for a match that is part of the tenth round of the Campeonato Brasileiro. The hosts are enduring a challenging period, having not secured a victory since their first match of the season.

This situation was underscored by their latest performance, where they suffered a significant defeat that consequently resulted in the sacking of manager Gilmar Dal Pozzo. Meanwhile, Vitória, although not in the relegation zone, are also struggling, coming off a substantial loss away from home.

Match overview

Following a victory against Santos in their opening match of the Campeonato Brasileiro, Chapecoense has entered a prolonged spell of uninspired play.

The Chapecó team has not achieved victory in their last seven matches in the league, managing four draws and three losses during this stretch.

These performances, alongside a heavy 4-0 loss at home to Atletico Mineiro on Thursday, resulted in Dal Pozzo’s dismissal.

This defeat also marked the end of Chapecoense’s unbeaten home record in the ongoing season.

Under Dal Pozzo’s leadership, the team played 22 matches, securing eight wins — six in the Campeonato Catarinense — with seven draws and seven losses. The side finished as runners-up in the state championship, losing to Barra.

As a result of the coaching change, the club now finds itself in the relegation zone, currently positioned 18th with seven points from one win, four draws, and three losses, having netted three goals and conceded nine, resulting in a goal difference of minus six.

The circumstances have been declining for some time, with unsatisfactory results and off-field structural issues, including the resignation of the football director following the coaching change.

On the flip side, Vitória was defeated 3-0 by Cruzeiro at the Mineirão on Wednesday night.

More concerning than the scoreline itself was the manner in which they conceded three goals in a mere six minutes during the first half.

After the match, manager Jair Ventura was straightforward in his evaluation, stating: “In our best moment we conceded three goals in six minutes. We cannot normalize this situation. Letting in a goal is one thing, but we must not allow our morale to falter and continuously concede.”

Ventura also commented on his team’s ongoing challenges away from home, saying: “We are facing the same issues. Our first away victory last year occurred in the 29th round, and we aim for consistent performances away. We couldn’t achieve that today.”

Despite the result, Vitória remains at 10 points in 12th place, having secured three wins, one draw, and four losses from eight fixtures, with eight goals scored and 13 conceded, resulting in a goal difference of minus five.

Vitória is among the lowest in the division for attempts on goal and possesses the worst record for away matches in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A. In four away fixtures, they have accumulated just one point from a single draw, scoring two goals while conceding 11.

Team News

For their trip to Chapecó, Chapecoense will be missing three players currently undergoing treatment, and they are yet to appoint a new manager following Dal Pozzo’s exit.

Bruno Matias, who has suffered an anterior cruciate ligament tear, is not expected to return until mid-year.

Robert Santos, also out due to a knee ligament injury, will likely be sidelined for the season’s remainder.

Maurício Garcez, recovering from a thigh issue, is projected to return around mid-April.

Midfielder Giovani Augusto, who was replaced during the first half of the match against Atletico Mineiro because of a muscular issue, is a doubt and will be evaluated on Friday and Saturday.

On the side of Vitória, Jair Ventura is also dealing with the absence of seven players, five of whom are out due to injuries.

Rúben Ismael is unavailable following knee surgery, while Pedro Henrique has a broken arm, Edu Ribeiro is sidelined due to an Achilles injury, Marinho is out with a thigh problem, and Dudu is unable to play due to a back issue.

Emanuel Martínez and Gabriel Baralhas are both suspended after accumulating yellow cards.

Claudinho is also a doubt due to a recent muscular injury and will be assessed prior to the fixture.

Chapecoense probable starting XI:

Rafael Santos; Victor Caetano, Bruno Leonardo, Eduardo Doma; Marcos Vinícius, Camilo, Jean Carlos, Rafael Carvalheira, Walter Clar; Italo Vargas, Yannick Bolasie. Manager: TBC.

Vitoria probable starting XI:

Lucas Archangel; Nathan Mendes, Camutanga, Cacá, Ramo; Caique, Zé Vitor, Erick Serafim, Matheuzinho, Aitor Cantalapiedra; Renato Kayzer. Manager: Jair Ventura.

Chapecoense will aim to capitalize on their home advantage, demonstrating signs of resilience at the Arena Condá through their tactical discipline and the support of their fans.

Conversely, Vitória arrives with a dismal away record and evident defensive frailties, which should benefit the home side, as Chapecoense seems positioned well to validate their status as favorites and secure all three points.