Criciuma will look to continue their positive start to the Brasileiro season when they take on Palmeiras at Estadio Heriberto Hulse on Sunday night. The hosts have only played three games this season and have earned five points to date, while the visitors have taken eight points from their first six fixtures. © Reuters Criciuma have made a very promising start upon their return to Serie A and head into their fourth game of the season still unbeaten following back-to-back draws and a first win in the top flight last time out.
That victory came in emphatic fashion on the road against Vasco da Gama, where the side smashed in four goals without response at the end of last month, just before the league was halted due to the floods. Fellipe Mateus scored a brace against the Black Shirts on the day, former Everton attacker Yannick Bolasie got his first goal since arriving in the offseason, and Meritao secured the points with the final goal of the afternoon. The only disappointment the side have experienced this term was in the Copa do Brasil, where they were beaten 3-0 on aggregate by league high-flyers Bahia, though Criciuma were more than competitive in both games and would have taken plenty of positives from their performance across the two-legged tie.
Up next for Claudio Tencati 's team are Palmeiras, a side that they have not faced since their relegation campaign in 2014 and have not beaten in the Brazilian top flight previously. Meanwhile, Palmeiras's title defence has got of.
