A match initially scheduled for earlier this month will occur on Tuesday at Estadio Nabi Abi Chedid in Braganca Paulista as Bragantino host Atletico Mineiro.
Their 2-0 victory over Gremio vaulted Braga into sixth place in the Brasileiro Serie A table, two points above Galo, who could only manage a 1-1 draw with Bahia last time out.
Match preview
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It was a winning start to the month of June for Braga, who ended a three-match losing run in Serie A with their matchday seven victory.
That was also their first away victory in the competition this season, while they have not lost a competitive home contest since January 31 (1-0 versus Palmeiras in the Paulista A1).
After seven matchdays in the league this season, Bragantino have picked up 12 points, one fewer than they had at this stage a year ago.
Pedro Caixinha's men are unbeaten in the league this season when leading or even after 45 minutes, while their only defeat of the domestic campaign occurred when they were behind at the interval (1-0 to Bahia).
At this stage of the new campaign, they are among the many teams within striking distance of first in Serie A, just a point behind Sao Paulo for a place in the Copa Libertadores next year and only two back of league leaders Flamengo.
All of their prior meetings with Mineiro occurred in the Brazilian top flight, with Braga claiming a point in three of those four encounters played at Nabi Abi Chedid.
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It has been a difficult few weeks for Mineiro, a side that have won just one of their previous four matches across all competitions.
That included a surprise exit in the third round of the Copa do Brasil versus Serie B side Sport Recife, though they followed up that disappointment with an emphatic 4-0 triumph over Caracas at the Copa Libertadores.
Gabriel Milito began coaching the Belo Horizonte side in late March, going unbeaten in his first 12 competitive games, but he has not won a league contest since late April (3-0 over Cuiaba).
Mineiro and Fortaleza are the only two sides in the Brazilian top-flight without a domestic defeat this season, though the 2021 Serie A champions have dropped four points in league play this year when leading in the second half.
Their four goals conceded in the league thus far are the joint-second-fewest behind Internacional, who have only given up three in five fixtures.
They have never lost a Serie A encounter versus Bragantino, winning for the first time at Nabi Abi Chadi last year (2-1).
Team News
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Nathan Camargo could soon be available after missing the previous Bragantino encounter due to a knee issue, while Eduardo Sasha remains doubtful because of a thigh injury.
Four new faces were in their starting 11 from matchday six to seven, as Juninho Capixaba, Eric Ramires, Matheus Fernandes and Henry Mosquera replaced Nathan Mendes, Eduardo Santos, Gustavinho and Vitinho.
An early strike courtesy of Ramires stood up as the match-winner against Gremio, with Luan Candido converting a penalty on the hour to give his side some insurance.
It is unlikely that Rubens will suit up for Atletico until late July as he is recovering from a sprained knee, Paulo Vitor may be a couple of weeks away from returning from a sore ankle, while Otavio and Hulk will be questionable because of thigh injuries.
Galo will not have Alan Franco, Guilherme Arana or Eduardo Vargas available, with each of them currently on international duty for Ecuador, Brazil and Chile, respectively.
Hulk had the only goal in their previous domestic encounter, while he and Igor Gomes found the back of the net in their last away fixture versus Bragantino.
Bragantino possible starting lineup:
Cleiton; Jadsom, Henrique, Candido, Capixaba; Ramires, Raul, Evangelista; Vitinho, Borbas, Gustavinho
Atletico Mineiro possible starting lineup:
Everson; Saravia, Fuchs, Lemos; Pedrinho, Gomes, Battaglia, Zaracho, Scarpa; Kardec, Paulinho
We say: Bragantino 1-1 Atletico Mineiro
Five of the meetings between these two sides have resulted in a draw, and we project another one on Tuesday as neither have had a massive killer instinct, while both have shown resilience.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
