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

Bragantino will look to get their title fight back on track when they welcome Juventude to the Estadio Nabi Abi Chedid on Saturday evening.

They should stand a fair chance of doing so, despite their mixed form, as the visitors continue their precarious slide down the table.

Match preview

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Braga made a fantastic start to the season and were fighting it out with Palmeiras for top spot not long ago, but a slip in form has seen them drop to fourth, six points behind leaders Atletico Mineiro.

Getting over the line has been an issue in recent home matches, with four of their last five ending in draws - a 90th-minute equaliser for Santos was particularly galling.

Perhaps fatigue is taking its toll on Mauricio Barbieri's side, after a gruelling summer schedule including a run of nine games in July as they continue to make progress in the Copa Sudamericana.

Goalscoring had been their strongest suit - they were the league's top scorers for a considerable portion of the season and remain joint-second behind Palmeiras - but teams appear to have cottoned on to their methods and they have scored just once in their last three league games.

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Juventude have also been struggling to find the net of late, particularly away from home with just one goal on their travels since the beginning of July.

That has led to a run of three consecutive away losses and no wins in their last 11 games on the road, as they continue their dangerous transition from a mid-table side to one that could be in a relegation battle.

Their issues have not all been self-inflicted, as they have been seriously hindered by an outbreak of COVID-19 in the camp and contractual clauses which have affected the availability of others.

That has led to numerous youth players being called up due to an unsurprising lack of squad depth from a side that has just returned to the top flight for the first time in 13 years.

The strong form in June is now but a distant memory, aside from a sole victory over strugglers Chapecoense - who are bottom with only four points - and Juve now sit 14th in the table, just two points above the relegation zone.

Team News

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Bragantino have a few minor injuries, such as defender Luan Candido, but can expect to field a strong squad, potentially with a little rotation after having played another cup game on Tuesday.

Top scorer Ytalo is goalless in his last five games but looks set to continue to lead the line and Artur will surely remain in the team after his heroic hat-trick in the game against Rosario Central.

Juventude remain without midfielders Jadson and Wagner, as they continue their isolation due to positive COVID-19 tests, with the outbreak hopefully having now run its course and the team soon able to return to some sense of normalcy.

Elton is out for the remainder of the season with a knee injury, but there could be a return for attacking midfielder Wescley after missing the last match with a thigh injury.

Bragantino possible starting lineup:
Cleiton; Aderlan, Bruno, Ortiz, Natan; Raul, Evangelista, Cuello, Jadsom, Artur; Ytalo

Juventude possible starting lineup:
Carne; Henrique, Didi, Cleberson, Alysson; Dawhan, Capixaba, Jesus, Wescley; Paulinho, Roberson

We say: Bragantino 1-0 Juventude

With both teams having won just one of their last five league games, it looks like a match that neither is set up to win, but Braga's extra class should see them edge a low-scoring game.