Bragantino travel to Porto Alegre to face Gremio at the Estadio Couto Pereira for a Brasileiro battle on Saturday.
While the hosts are bidding to win two games in the space of just four days, the visitors are looking to extend their unbeaten run to four matches.
Match preview
© Reuters
After finishing second last season to secure their highest Brasileiro finish for a decade, Gremio have since experienced a mixed start to the new campaign, winning and losing two of their opening four league matches.
Back-to-back home wins without reply over league leaders Atletico Paranaense and basement club Cuiaba were followed by a slender 1-0 defeat at second-placed Bahia - their most recent Brasileiro fixture just over a month ago following the catastrophic floods in Rio Grande do Sul.
Gremio eventually returned to competitive action on Wednesday when they cruised to a 4-0 home victory over The Strongest in the Copa Libertadores group stage, a result that has given them a fighting chance to advance to the knockout rounds.
Renato Gaucho's side now shift their focus back to the Brasileiro, where they currently sit 12th in the table, just one point above the bottom four - albeit at such an early stage in the season - and three points behind Saturday's opponents Bragantino in ninth.
Bragantino are one of the few Brazilian teams that have not had their fixture schedule affected by the country's recent floods and have played a total of seven games in the month of May compared to just two for Gremio.
Massa Bruta have won three times during this run, including a 3-0 home victory over third-tier outfit Sousa in a Copa do Brasil third-round tie, before rescuing a point in a 1-1 draw with Chilean side Coquimbo in their final group-stage fixture in the Copa Sudamericana on Wednesday.
Bragantino had already qualified for the knockout rounds with a game to spare, but Helinho came off the substitutes' bench to net a dramatic 98th-minute equaliser from the penalty spot to ensure that the Red Bulls would avoid defeat for the third match in a row.
Before taking part in the knockout rounds in July, Pedro Caixinha's men will endeavour to end a three-game winless run in the Brasileiro, with victory against Gremio on Saturday potentially enough to see them climb into the top four.
Bragantino secured a 2-0 win over Gremio in their last meeting eight months ago, but they head to the Estadio Couto Pereira having failed to win any of their previous three visits, losing twice and drawing once by a 3-3 scoreline just over a year ago.
Team News
© Reuters
Gremio's lengthy list of injured absentees includes Cristian Pavon, Gustavo Martins, Mayk (all thigh), Pedro Geromel (broken arm), Andre Henrique (ankle), Jhonata Robert and Lucas Mila (both knee).
Diego Costa and Nathan Fernandes are both suspended for Saturday's game after being sent off in the closing stages of the defeat to Bahia last month, but Mathias Villasanti is available to return from a continental ban and could be recalled to start in midfield ahead of either Dodi or Pepe.
In the absence of Costa, attacker Joao Pedro is set to lead the line and he could be supported in the final third by wingers Yeferson Soteldo and Everton, who both scored in the midweek win over The Strongest.
As for Bragantino, Juninho Capixaba (calf), Nathan Camargo (knee) and top scorer Eduardo Sasha (thigh) all remain sidelined with injuries, but Andres Hurtado recovered from an ankle issue to make the matchday squad last time out and could be fit to feature in some capacity against Gremio.
Thiago Borbas is set to continue up front in the absence of Sasha and he could be supported in attack by Vitinho, Henry Mosquera and Lincoln, with the latter replacing Jadsom in the number 10 role.
Gremio possible starting lineup:
Marchesin; Joao Pedro, Ely, Kannemann, Fabio; Villasanti, Dodi; Everton, Cristaldo, Soltedo; Joao Pedro
Bragantino possible starting lineup:
Cleiton; Mendes, Henrique, Santos, Candido; Fernandes, Evangelista; Mosquera, Lincoln, Vitinho; Borbas
We say: Gremio 1-0 Bragantino
Gremio have made themselves difficult to break down in recent weeks, conceding just once in their last six games, while Bragantino have only found the net more than once in two of their last 11 matches, so a tight contest could be in store on Saturday. The momentum is with the hosts following their comfortable midweek win and they may just find a way to come out on top this weekend.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
