Preview: Bragantino vs. Chapecoense - prediction, team news, lineups

Bragantino will play host to Chapecoense on Saturday, in a clash between sides at opposite ends of the Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A table.

The hosts currently occupy fourth spot, while their visitors go in search of a first league win of the season at the 20th time of asking.

Match preview

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After 10 games of the league season, Bragantino sat at the summit of the Campeonato Brasileiro table with 22 points, but a dip in form has seen them fall from top spot.

A run of just one win from seven games resulted in a drop to fourth place, but Mauricio Barbieri's side appear to have bounced back recently.

Following a defeat to Juventude, the Massa Bruta travelled to take on America Mineiro, and Ytalo and Gabriel Novaes got on the scoresheet in an important 2-0 win.

They then played host to league leaders Atletico Mineiro last time out, and they took an early lead thanks to an own goal from Nathan Silva before withstanding pressure for the majority of the encounter.

Star forward Diego Costa drew the visitors level in the final five minutes to cost Bragantino the victory, but they should certainly take positives from the last two games.

Now trailing third-placed Fortaleza by one point and second-placed Palmeiras by three points, Barbieri's side have a good chance to quickly climb back into the top two if they can build on their upturn in form with a home win over a vulnerable Chapecoense outfit on Saturday.

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The visitors arrive with the hopes of collecting their first win of the campaign, after earning promotion from the second tier last season.

They were introduced back into the top flight with a trip to take on Bragantino, and Saturday's opponents thrashed them 3-0 before Jair Ventura's side suffered a defeat at the hands of title-chasing Palmeiras.

After a run of three consecutive draws in the first month of the campaign, Chape have been rooted to the foot of the Brazilian top flight, now sitting on just seven points from 19 league outings.

While they did earn three commendable draws in quick succession in August, taking points off America Mineiro, Atletico Goianiense and Sport Recife, that run was put to an end by a defeat to Fluminense last time out, as Perotti's goal was not enough to salvage a result after Raul Bobadilla and Luiz Henrique had put the visitors two goals ahead inside the first 20 minutes.

Now sitting 14 points adrift of safety, Ventura's men will be fully aware that they require a major transformation in the second half of the season to stand a chance of avoiding the drop, and they will hope to kickstart that push by claiming what would be an eye-catching scalp on Saturday.

Team News

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Bragantino are expected to remain without forward Artur, who remains away with the Brazilian national team as they play their final game of the round of fixtures on Friday.

Raul, Bruno Tubarao and Lucas Evangelista are also expected to miss out, as they continue spells on the sidelines through injury.

The line will be led by Ytalo, who has hit an impressive tally of seven goals alongside three assists in 15 Brasileiro games so far this season.

Chapecoense forward Perotti will be pushing for a starting spot after he came off the bench to net a goal against Fluminense last time out.

He could replace Mike, who is yet to score in 12 appearances in the Brazilian top flight this campaign.

Anderson Jordan should again play an important role at the back, having starred as they ground out a goalless draw with Sport Recife, although Kadu could again start if Joilson misses continues to miss out.

Bragantino possible starting lineup:
Schwengber; Aderlan, Bruno, Natan, Edimar; Jadsom, Ramires; Cuello, Praxedes, Novaes; Ytalo

Chapecoense possible starting lineup:
Keiller; Matheus Ribeiro, Kadu, Jordan, Busanello; Melz, Santos, Moises Ribeiro, Silva; Perotti, Ramon

We say: Bragantino 3-0 Chapecoense

While Chapecoense will be desperate to find an elusive victory, we see them being brushed aside again on Saturday by a Bragantino side with their sights set on challenging for top spot.

Ventura's men have regularly failed to threaten in attack, while they face the tough task of dealing with one of the league's top-scoring sides, and we see them falling to a heavy defeat on their travels.