Sports Mole previews Sunday’s Brasileiro clash between Palmeiras and Juventude, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Reigning champions Palmeiras will be looking to pick up a fifth straight victory when they welcome Juventude to Allianz Parque on Sunday.
The away side, on the other hand, make the journey in search of consecutive league victories for this first time since the turn of the new campaign.
Match preview
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Palmeiras just about got the better of Red Bull Bragantino thanks to a narrow 2-1 triumph as the teams went head to head on Friday morning.
Abel Ferreira‘s men went into the interval with a slender advantage following Raphael Veiga‘s opener but they were soon pegged back by Matheus Fernandes after which Rony grabbed the winner 10 minutes into the second half.
As a result, Alviverde have moved up to third place in the Brasileiro table and remain just one point adrift of early frontrunners Flamengo.
Lying in store next is the challenge of an opposing outfit who are without a win in the most recent four editions of this fixture, losing three of them.
Having managed just seven points from their five league matches on home turf this term, Sunday’s hosts will need to pick up the pace in front of their fans as they look to make it three straight league crowns.
Juventude picked up a first win in three matches by beating Vasco da Gama 2-0 in Thursday’s encounter at Estadio Alfredo Jaconi.
Off the back of a relatively uneventful opening half, Roger Machado‘s men edged ahead through Lucas Barbosa before sealing the deal courtesy of Jean Carlos‘s stoppage-time strike.
With 13 points picked up from nine outings so far, Esporte Clube sit 11th in the standings, four points shy of Cruzeiro in the race for the final Copa Libertadores spot.
Winless in five straight away matches leading up to this weekend, Sunday’s visitors will be keen to give their traveling fans reason to cheer this time around.
Palmeiras Brasileiro form:
Palmeiras form (all competitions):
Juventude Brasileiro form:
Team News
Palmeiras’ Bruno Rodrigues continues to nurse a long-term knee problem and is still a considerable way off returning to action.
The home side will also be without the services of Lazaro and Romulo, although the latter is not far off making a comeback having missed each of the last three matches.
Juventude duo Kleiton and Renan are guaranteed absentees for this weekend’s contest as they continue to battle with thigh and knee injuries respectively.
Jean Carlos wasted no time in making an impact after returning from an injury layoff as he found the back of the net last time out which could see him rewarded with a start here.
Palmeiras possible starting lineup:
Weverton; Mayke, Naves, Murilo, Piquerez; Moreno, Ze Rafael, Menino, Veiga; Estevao, Rony
Juventude possible starting lineup:
Gabriel; Lucas, Boza, Ze Marcos, Inocencio; Goncalves, Jadson, Nene; Barbosa, Gilberto, Marcelinho
We say: Palmeiras 3-0 Juventude
Palmeiras are in scintillating form at the moment and will definitely take some stopping here. We fancy the home side to run out comfortable winners come the end of the 90 minutes.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.