A pair of newly promoted sides will square off for the first time in the Brasileiro Serie A this weekend, as Mirassol host Sport Recife on Sunday at Estadio Municipal Jose Maria de Campos Maia.
The Serie B runners-up last season moved up to ninth in the table with a 2-0 triumph over Sao Paulo, while Recife are bottom of the league, playing to a 1-1 draw at home to Internacional last weekend.
Match preview
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You would not know it based on their current standing, but Mirassol are in the Brazilian top flight for the first time in club history.
Rafael Guanaes's side have been among the biggest early surprises thus far, with at least a point in eight of their previous nine league contests.
The club based in Sao Paulo are undefeated at home in the competition this year, claiming eight out of a possible 12 points at Estadio Municipal Jose Maria de Campos Maia so far this year.
Early on, this team have shown plenty of resilience, collecting six points in Serie A from a losing position in the second half.
Among the biggest surprises has been their ability to find the back of the net, scoring the joint second-most goals in the league so far, with nine of their 16 strikes taking place in front of their home fans.
Mirassol have never lost a home game against Recife in two prior meetings, claiming their only such victory, 2-1, in the 2023 Serie B campaign.
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They got the start they wanted but could not hold on, as Sport Recife are still searching for that elusive first victory of the 2025 domestic campaign.
On the positive side, Antonio Oliveira saw his side end a three-match losing run in this competition, with those previous three defeats being by a combined margin of 8-1.
At the same time, they have now dropped four points in Serie A this season when leading at the half and are seven points below the relegation line.
On Sunday, they can earn at least a point in consecutive Brazilian top-flight fixtures for the first time since December 2021, winning their final three league games that month before being relegated.
While they have lost four of their five domestic away matches in 2025, three of their league-low five goals scored have been conceded as the visiting team.
Recife have won three of their last four Serie A affairs when netting multiple times, though all of those triumphs took place in 2021.
Team News
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Mirassol will be without Neto on Sunday after he received another caution against Sao Paulo in a match where Rafa Silva sat out with a thigh problem, while Matheus Sales, David Braz and Leo Gamalho were all sidelined because of unknown injuries.
Nahuel Ferraresi scored an own goal to put them in front last week, with Reinaldo converting a late penalty to secure the three points.
Meanwhile, Recife played their match versus Internacional minus Goncalo Paciencia, who had a sore hip, while Ze Roberto was sidelined due to torn knee ligaments, Denis had a knee injury, and Sergio Oliveira will be out of this upcoming match because of a yellow card suspension.
Chrystian Barletta had their only goal on that occasion, seven minutes into that contest, his team-leading second of the competition this year.
Mirassol possible starting lineup:
Walter; Ramon, Victor, Jemmes, Reinaldo; Danielzinho, Roni; Negueba, Felipe, Gabriel; Carioca
Sport Recife possible starting lineup:
Franca; Cunha, Carlos, Chico; Hereda, Queiroz, Lucas, Carius; Lima, Barletta; Romarinho
We say: Mirassol 1-0 Sport Recife
Mirassol have shown their promotion to the top flight was no fluke, and we expect they will eventually find a way through a side like Recife that have struggled to find much quality in the attacking third.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
