Juventude and Gremio will renew their heated rivalry on Sunday when the two sides meet in Brasileiro Serie A action at Estadio Alfredo Jaconi.
Juve are two points below the relegation line following a 1-0 defeat at Bragantino, while Gremio are holding onto the final Copa Sudamericana position, winning their previous league fixture 1-0 over Bahia.
Match preview
© Imago
It was another close one, but this time, Juventude failed to come away with anything, losing by a single goal for the second time in May.
This will be the third match for Claudio Tencati at the helm, and the 51-year-old has yet to win, claiming just a single point thus far.
Their only two victories in Serie A this year took place at home, while all eight of their points collected in the competition so far were at Estadio Alfredo Jaconi.
Coming into this match, Juventude are on a seven-match winless run in league play, claiming just two points over that stretch.
So far in the competition this year, the club from Caixas do Sul have scored a mere eight goals after 10 matchdays, the joint second-fewest in the league thus far.
Verdao have not lost any of their previous four competitive matches against Gremio at home, maintaining three clean sheets over that span.
© Imago
Down the stretch of May, Gremio tightened up their defensive game, without a goal conceded in three successive competitive fixtures.
Under Mano Menezes, since late April, the Porto Alegre-based team have suffered just one defeat in their previous five matches in this competition.
What he and this team have yet to achieve in 2025 is winning a league fixture away from home, having collected just one point as visitors so far this year.
At this stage of the season, they have struggled to hold onto their advantages, dropping nine points from a winning position.
That has them in an interesting position as only three points currently separate them from Ceara and a spot in the Copa Libertadores qualifiers, but they are just three points above the relegation line.
On Sunday, Gremio can win consecutive matches in Serie A for the first time in 2025, having not done so in the Brazilian top flight since July-August 2024 (three wins).
Team News
© Imago
A thigh problem kept Felipinho out of the Juventude lineup against Braga, and Cipriano was sidelined for that match with a hamstring strain.
Gustavo was taken out of that game at half-time with an apparent knock, with Marcao taking his place for the final 45 minutes.
Muscle injuries meant that Gustavo Cuellar, Joao Lucas and Miguel Monsalve missed the previous match for Gremio, while Joao Pedro was taken off in the opening half against Bahia with an ankle issue.
Martin Braithwaite converted a 61st-minute penalty against Bahia, and Tiago Volpi made three stops to preserve the victory and collect a clean sheet.
Juventude possible starting lineup:
Marcao; Ewerthon, Sam, Paulo, Ruschel; Nene, Caique, Mandaca, Garcez; Batalla, Taliari
Gremio possible starting lineup:
Volpi; Lucas, Leonardo, Kannemann, Marlon; Villasanti, Dodi; Pavon, Cristaldo, Amuzu; Braithwaite
We say: Juventude 1-0 Gremio
They have been keeping it close in recent matches, and this could be the game where Tencati finally earn that elusive first triumph against a strong defensive unit, but one that look rather lost away from home.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
