Athletico Paranaense vs Fortaleza – Match Preview

Athletico Paranaense will welcome Fortaleza at the historic Independencia stadium. This encounter is scheduled for Friday, September 14th, at 21:30 GMT. Athletico Paranaense, currently 12th with 29 points, aims to move up the table. Fortaleza, in 2nd place with 48 points, seeks to secure their position near the top. This match is crucial for both teams, with Athletico Paranaense looking to exceed expectations and Fortaleza aiming to continue their strong form. The odds indicate a closely contested match, highlighting its significance in the Serie A standings.

Athletico Paranaense – Form

Athletico Paranaense’s recent home performance has been inconsistent. Their last match on September 12th resulted in a 2:1 win against Vasco da Gama in the Cup. Before that, they faced a 0:2 defeat to Palmeiras in Serie A on September 1st. In another encounter with Vasco da Gama in Serie A, they lost 2:1. These outcomes matched the bookmakers’ expectations.

Fortaleza – Form

Fortaleza’s recent away games have shown mixed results. They lost 2:1 to Internacional on September 11th, with Titi scoring for Fortaleza. This was expected by bookmakers. On September 1st, they were defeated 2:0 by Botafogo RJ. However, they managed a 2:1 win against Red Bull Bragantino on August 17th, with goals from Tomas Pochettino and Breno Lopes. These results were in line with predictions.

Athletico Paranaense – Fortaleza – Head to Head

The last encounter between these teams was on June 2, 2024. Fortaleza secured a 1:0 win in the Serie A match. In their past 10 meetings, Athletico Paranaense won 4 times, Fortaleza won 3, and 3 matches ended in draws. This shows a balanced rivalry. The last 5 matches at Independencia Stadium saw both teams scoring. Athletico Paranaense has a strong home record, remaining unbeaten in their last 9 home games against Fortaleza. They have scored in each of the last 6 matches, hinting they might have the upper hand in this clash.

Athletico Paranaense – Fortaleza – Standings

As Round 26 approaches, Athletico Paranaense is in 12th place with 29 points from 23 matches. They have a negative goal difference, having scored 26 and conceded 28. Fortaleza, on the other hand, is in 2nd place with 48 points from 25 games. They have a positive goal difference, with 31 goals scored and 24 conceded. Fortaleza’s performance has exceeded preseason expectations, while Athletico Paranaense has not met theirs.

Athletico Paranaense vs Fortaleza – Top scorers

Gonzalo Mastriani leads Athletico Paranaense’s attack with 4 goals this season. Agustin Canobbio, Julimar, and Lucas Di Yorio each have scored 3 goals. Fernandinho has added 2 goals from midfield. For Fortaleza, Juan Martin Lucero is the top scorer with 8 goals. Tomas Pochettino and Breno Lopes have each scored 4 goals. Renato Kayzer has added 3 goals, and Yago Pikachu has scored 2 from defense.

Athletico Paranaense vs Fortaleza – Full-Time Betting

Bookmakers favor a home win for Athletico Paranaense at odds of 2.15. A draw and an away win for Fortaleza are both set at 3.40. Despite Fortaleza’s higher standing, Athletico Paranaense’s strong home record could tip the balance. The absence of suspended players might influence the match, but Athletico’s home advantage and past successes suggest they could edge out Fortaleza.

The “halftime-fulltime” market offers Athletico Paranaense at 2.875 to lead at halftime and win. The “draw-no-bet” market provides Athletico at 1.533, offering a refund in case of a draw. The “double-chance” market, with odds of 1.30 for either team to win or draw, suits cautious bettors.

Athletico Paranaense vs Fortaleza – Over/Under Betting

The “Over 2.5” goals option is priced at 2.25, while “Under 2.5” goals is at 1.615. Considering the history between these teams, with 12 of the last 13 meetings featuring fewer than 3.5 goals, the “Under 2.5” option at 1.615 is appealing for those expecting a low-scoring game.

Athletico Paranaense vs Fortaleza – BTTS Betting

The odds for BTTS (both teams to score) are 2.00 for ‘Yes’ and 1.75 for ‘No’. Given the history of both teams scoring in recent matches at Independencia Stadium, ‘BTTS: Yes’ might be a worthwhile bet. However, considering the recent form and defensive records, this bet carries a degree of risk.

Athletico Paranaense vs Fortaleza – Prediction