Vitoria vs Internacional Prediction

Right then, let's have a proper look at this scrap between two sides who've both been having a right old mare of a season. Vitoria sitting 17th and Internacional 15th - neither exactly setting the Brazilian Serie A alight, are they?

Vitoria's recent form has been a bit of a mixed bag, hasn't it? They've managed four wins in their last ten, but six losses tells its own story. They've had some decent results at home though - beating Bahia 2-1, Ceara 1-0, and Atletico-MG 1-0. But then they'll go and ship three to Cruzeiro or four to Vasco. Typical bottom-half stuff, really. At home, they've been a bit more solid, keeping it tight at the back with only 0.6 goals conceded per game on their own patch.

Now Internacional, blimey, where do we start? Their away form is absolutely shocking. Zero wins in their last five on the road, getting battered left, right, and centre. They're shipping two goals a game away from home and barely managing to score themselves. Recent results like 1-0 losses to Fluminense and Bahia, plus a 3-1 thumping at Mirassol, tell you everything you need to know. Their only recent wins came against the two worst sides in the division - Sport Recife and Botafogo.

When these two have met before, Internacional generally come out on top (6 wins to 3), but Vitoria have won half of their home games against them. The last meeting ended 1-0 to Internacional, but that was back in July.

Looking at the stats, both teams are averaging exactly a goal per game over their last ten matches. Neither exactly sets the world alight in front of goal, do they? Vitoria have kept three clean sheets in their last ten, while Internacional have managed the same number.

The way I see it, you've got a Vitoria side that's half-decent at home against an Internacional team that's absolutely woeful on their travels. Both teams struggle to score, both are inconsistent, and both are desperate for points. This has all the makings of a tight, nervy affair with probably not too many goals.

Key Points:

• Vitoria have won 60% of their last 5 home games

• Internacional haven't won any of their last 5 away games (0%)

• Both teams average exactly 1 goal per game over last 10 matches

• Internacional concede 2.0 goals per game away from home

• Vitoria concede only 0.6 goals per game at home

• Head-to-head favors Internacional but Vitoria have won 50% of home meetings

Given both teams' struggles in front of goal and Internacional's dreadful away form, I'm leaning towards this being a low-scoring affair. Neither side looks capable of putting on a goal-fest, and with both fighting for their lives near the bottom, we could see a cagey, defensive battle.