Two Brasileiro teams who have failed to hit the ground running in the 2024 campaign do battle at the Maracana on Saturday when Fluminense play host to Juventude.
While the hosts are seeking to avoid going four league games without a win, the visitors have only come out on top in one of their last six matches across all competitions.
Match preview
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After finishing seventh in the Brasileiro standings last season, Fluminense have made a slow start to this year's campaign, accumulating just five points from their opening six league fixtures.
Fernando Diniz have lost each of their first three away games against Bahia, Corinthians and Sao Paulo, while their only home triumph in the top flight thus far was a 2-1 win over Vasco da Gama at the end of April.
The Big Flu currently find themselves languishing in the relegation zone in 17th place, although a victory over Juventude on Saturday could propel them to as high as ninth if other results go their way.
Fluminense's early-season league form may leave a little to be desired, but they have impressed in recent weeks across all competitions having won five of their last seven matches, including each of their last three, most recently beating Alianza Lima 3-2 in the Copa Libertadores group stage on Thursday.
Diniz and co have not lost any of their last seven games on home soil and will fancy their chances of success on Saturday against a Juventude side whom they have beaten in three of their last four home meetings, including a 4-0 victory in September 2022.
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Since securing promotion from the second tier last season, Juventude have collected five points from their opening four Brasileiro fixtures, four more than fellow newly-promoted duo Vitoria and Atletico Goianiense sitting below them in the table.
Juve picked up maximum points in their first home match of the season, beating Corinthians 2-0, but that result was followed by a heavy 5-1 defeat at Botafogo just three days later.
Due to the devastating floods in Brazil, the Caxias do Sul-based outfit have not played a competitive fixture since April 28 when they played out a respectable 1-1 draw with league leaders Athletico Paranaense.
Roger Machado, who managed Fluminense in 2021, currently sees his Juventude side sitting 15th in the top-flight standings and four points above the bottom four, while a victory on Saturday could see them climb into the top half of the table.
Juventude will be targeting a positive run of form in the coming weeks as their next three games are against teams currently sitting in the relegation zone, including Fluminense whom they have beaten in two of their last three encounters.
Team News
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Fluminense are still having to cope without key midfielder Andre and attacker Lele who are both nursing knee injuries, while Samuel Xavier and Manoel are doubtful with respective foot and muscle problems.
Lima recovered from illness to start in midweek and the midfielder is expected to retain his place alongside Alexsander, while experienced quintet Fabio, 43, Felipe Melo, 40, Marcelo, Renato Augusto and German Cano, all 36, are all expected to feature in some capacity.
As for Juventude, Jean Carlos and Rodrigo Sam are sidelined with respective calf and ankle injuries, while Caique Goncalves will serve a one-match suspension due to an accumulation of yellow cards.
Edson Carioca will have a thigh issue assessed ahead of kickoff, but if he is not deemed fit to start, then Marcelinho could operate on the left flank, joining Lucas Barbosa, Erick Farias and 42-year-old Nene in attack.
Fluminense possible starting lineup:
Fabio; Guga, Melo, Martinelli, Marcelo; Alexsander, Lima; Arias, Augusto, Keno; Cano
Juventude possible starting lineup:
Gabriel; Lucas, Boza, Ze Marcos, Ruschel; Jadson, Oyama; Barbosa, Nene, Marcelinho; Farias
We say: Fluminense 2-1 Juventude
A competitive and closely-fought contest could be in store on Saturday between two teams keen to return to winning ways in the top flight, but considering that Fluminense have been strong on home soil and boast the match sharpness that Juventude will lack having not played in over a month, we believe that the hosts will find a way to come out on top.
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