Internacional vs Cuiabá Prediction: Inter is on the rise

Internacional hosts Cuiabá in the final match of Round 26 and is looking to win for the third consecutive time to move closer to sixth place. Inter is eighth with two games in hand, six points behind the G6. The top six finishers will qualify for the Copa Libertadores, and that's the Gaúchos' primary target.

The Colorado beat Fortaleza 2-1 at home in a postponed match from Round 19. Internacional had the right attitude to defeat the second-placed team in the Brasileirão. The home side opened the scoring through captain Alan Patrick in a beautiful collective move. The Cearenses reacted and equalized just before half-time through Tarouco following a mistake by Anthoni, Inter's goalkeeper, who dropped the ball after a cross into the box. The Gaúchos never gave up and scored near the end in the 83rd minute through Prado in a very confusing move in the area with several rebounds. In their last four games, Roger Machado's men have won three and drawn one, with six goals scored and two conceded.

The Golden Dorado also took advantage of the international break to play a postponed match from Round 16. Cuiabá failed to get beyond a 0-0 draw at home to Juventude, a worrying result for its future in the competition. The Matogrossenses still have another game in hand, but the penultimate place with five points less than Fluminense, the first team out of the relegation zone, doesn't look rosy. Cuiabá can't afford to drop points against a direct opponent in its stadium. Bernardo Franco's side is under heavy pressure and needs a good result against Inter in Porto Alegre.

Internacional recovered its confidence and hasn't lost in four games, moving closer to sixth place, which leads to the Copa Libertadores. Cuiabá hasn't lost in its two most recent matches but was unable to beat a direct opponent at home, a result that isn't very encouraging. The Mato Grosso do Sul side urgently needs points to get out of the relegation zone, and it's tricky to play at the Beira-Rio. I'm backing Internacional to win with a maximum of four goals in the game.