Preview: Brazil vs. Paraguay - prediction, team news, lineups

Already-qualified Brazil will aim to make it 15 games unbeaten in World Cup 2022 Qualifying when Paraguay pay a visit to Belo Horizonte on Tuesday.

The Selecao were held to a 1-1 draw by Ecuador last time out, while their upcoming visitors fell to a 1-0 defeat to a rejuvenated Uruguay.

Match preview

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Twice Alisson Becker was sent for an early bath in Brazil's battle with third-placed Ecuador, and twice VAR saved the Liverpool number one's bacon, but Emerson Royal would be made to take the walk of shame as Brazil were forced to settle for a point on the day.

Casemiro put Brazil one goal to the good after six minutes before Emerson was sent off for two bookable offences - his first one coming in the opening minute - and Ecuador's own 10 men restored parity through Felix Torres in an incident-packed encounter.

Tite's side will undoubtedly be disappointed not to have prevailed in such a fiery battle, but with the five-time World Cup winners still top of the section and already looking at plane journeys to Qatar, it hardly mattered in the grand scheme of things.

Brazil's prime goal now is simply to hold off the threat of Argentina for top spot in CONMEBOL Qualifying, and they currently boast a four-point lead over the Copa America winners, scoring a group-high 28 goals and conceding a mere five in the process.

The Selecao also boast a perfect record of six wins from six at home in Qualifying so far and have shipped just one of their five conceded goals on familiar turf - all of which does not point to an unexpected Paraguay success story.

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Facing a Uruguay side on a five-game winless streak and a dismal four-game losing run in World Cup Qualifying could have worked in Paraguay's favour on another day, but a fresh face in the dugout benefitted the visitors to the Estadio General Pablo Rojas last week.

During his first game on the touchline for Uruguay, Diego Alonso witnessed Luis Suarez hit a 50th-minute winner against Paraguay, whose already-slim hopes of Qualifying have now taken another hit as they prepare to be put out of their misery.

Only Venezuela (10) have taken fewer points than Paraguay (13) in World Cup Qualifying so far, with Guillermo Barros Schelotto's side six points adrift of Uruguay in fifth and seven off the automatic top four spots, so their fate will be sealed if results do not go their way on matchday 16.

La Albirroja enjoyed a consistent period of finals qualification between 1998 and 2010 but have struggled to compete with the big boys since, now winless in six in 2022 Qualifying and failing to find the back of the net even once in that time.

A paltry tally of nine strikes represents the worst attacking record out of the 10 South American nations in the section, and Brazil eased to a 2-0 win on Paraguay's turf during their most recent battle in June.

Team News

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As well as the suspended Emerson, Real Madrid's Eder Militao will not be available for this game either due to an accumulation of bookings, allowing the centre-back to make an early return to the Bernabeu.

A 121st cap therefore awaits Dani Alves as he prepares to deputise at right-back for Emerson, and if Thiago Silva is deemed in need of a rest, Arsenal's Gabriel Magalhaes could earn his debut alongside Marquinhos.

Matheus Cunha earned a rare start in the final third against Ecuador but will likely cede his place to Gabriel Barbosa or Gabriel Jesus here, while Philippe Coutinho should be fine to go again despite an early substitution last time out.

As for Paraguay, Gustavo Gomez was sent off with seconds remaining in the defeat to Uruguay and will serve a suspension here alongside Matias Rojas - banned for an accumulation of bookings.

Gomez represents Paraguay's captain, record appearance maker and top goalscorer in the current squad with four goals, so his absence will certainly be felt as David Martinez and Mathias Villasanti prepare to deputise for him and Rojas.

Schelotto does not exactly have much to work with in the final third as he seeks to end his side's miserable goal drought, but Braian Samudio represents a possible alteration out wide.

Brazil possible starting lineup:
Ederson; Alves, Marquinhos, Gabriel, Sandro; Fred, Casemiro; Antony, Coutinho, Vinicius; Jesus

Paraguay possible starting lineup:
Silva; Escobar, Martinez, Alonso, Arzamendia; Ojeda, Villasanti, Sanchez, Almiron; Gonzalez, Sanabria

We say: Brazil 3-0 Paraguay

Brazil can afford to take their foot off the gas at this stage of Qualifying - as much as Tite will not want them to - but the Selecao will certainly be fired-up from the frenetic encounter with Ecuador.

Paraguay's goal-shy tendencies are showing no signs of improving anytime soon - let alone against a star-studded Brazil backline - so a storming Selecao win should be the only outcome here.

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