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

2020 Copa Libertadores winners Palmeiras take on Brasileiro new boys Juventude this week at the Estadio Alfredo Jaconi.

Palmeiras will come into this game looking to work their way up the table, while Juve will hope to snatch some much-needed points off one of the league's most celebrated sides.

Match preview

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Abel Ferreira's Palmeiras have endured a rocky start to the new season, picking up a loss, a victory and a draw in their three opening games.

Currently ninth in the standings, Verdao have just four points to their name and are yet to really make their mark on the campaign.

Last time out against Corinthians, Ferreira's men were held to a 1-1 draw, after Raphael Veiga opened the scoring for Verdao in the third minute of the game.

It has been a difficult start to the campaign for Verdao and their games have been far from easy.

Ferreira will hope a win in this week's game can inspire a good run of form.

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Juve are yet to pick up their first win of the season, having drawn twice and lost once so far.

Currently 14th in the Brasileiro, the top-flight new boys have just two points to their name.

Against Santos last time out, Juve managed to wrangle a 0-0 draw against the league heavyweights.

In what was an extraordinary game, Juve registered just two shots in total, 237 passes compared to Santos's 703 and just 24% of the possession.

Team News

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Verdao will be without defender Michel, who is unavailable due to COVID-19.

Patrick de Paula, Danilo Barbosa, Danilo and Gabriel Veron are all also unavailable due to injury.

Juventude boss Marquinhos Santos has a fully fit squad to choose from, with no injury worries to concern himself with.

It is unlikely Santos will tinker too much to his side or make any big formation changes coming into this tie.

Juventude possible starting lineup:
Carne; Michel, Mendes, Forster, Alyson; Capixaba, Elton, Castilho, Vinicios; Wescley, Kim

Palmeiras possible starting lineup:
Jailson; Mayke, Luan, Renan, Luis; Scarpa, Melo, Veiga; Rony, Adriano, Wesley

We say: Juventude 0-2 Palmeiras

Juventude have given life in the top flight a good go in recent weeks, but we expect Palmeiras to really test their resolve and get the better of Juve.