With five games of the season remaining, Gremio will meet Juventude at the Arena do Gremio on Wednesday in a crucial contest at the bottom end of the Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A table.
The visitors currently sit 17th in the final relegation place, while their hosts find themselves 12th but only two points better off.
Match preview
© Imago
Gremio head back into Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A action on Wednesday aiming to make a return to winning ways and extend their lead over the drop zone, having dropped into a concerning position in recent weeks.
After finishing second in Brazil's top flight last time around, the Imortal Tricolor have endured a tougher campaign in 2024, currently sitting 12th with five games left to play, despite seemingly sitting in a comfortable mid-table spot having moved onto 35 points from 28 games with a victory in early October.
In the five attempts since, Renato Portaluppi's side have put just one more victory and four more points on the board, firstly suffering back-to-back away defeats before beating basement side Atletico Goianiense 3-1 on home turf late last month.
A trip to Fluminense then followed, and the Porto Alegre side snatched a point from a 2-2 draw thanks to Reinaldo's injury-time equaliser, before most recently visiting Palmeiras and leaving empty-handed as Estevao netted the only goal in a 1-0 home victory 13 minutes from time.
While they still occupy the final Copa Libertadores group-stage spot in the Brasileiro standings, Gremio now only lead the bottom four by two points and will be desperate to move further clear of the away side with a return to winning ways at the Arena do Gremio.
Wednesday's visitors, meanwhile, will bid to move out of the bottom four with back-to-back league wins for the first time this season.
After winning promotion from Brazil's second tier last time around, Juventude have experienced a tough term back in the top flight, currently sitting 17th having picked up 37 points from their 33 outings thus far.
A five-match winless streak across September and October spelled the end of Jair Ventura's spell in the hot seat, and while new boss Fabio Matias was not instantly able to end their slump, as they went on to suffer a third straight defeat at the hands of Fortaleza in his first game at the helm late last month, the Verdao did manage to bounce back last time out.
They hosted Bahia at the Estadio Alfredo Jaconi and trailed 1-0 heading into the final 20 minutes, but Lucas Barbosa would level the scores before Gabriel Taliari sealed a first victory for Matias 11 minutes from time.
Although they still sit in the drop zone with five games to go, Juventude now only trail Criciuma, Athletico Paranaense and Fluminense on goal difference, Vitoria by one point and Wednesday's hosts by two after that crucial return to winning ways, and they will now look to jump out of the drop zone with another victory and a first away from home since August.
Team News
© Imago
Gremio continue to contend with several injury issues heading into Wednesday's meeting, as defenders Walter Kannemann and Gustavo Martins and winger Gustavo Nunes will continue to miss out.
Given those absences, Rodrigo Ely and Jemerson will continue to partner up at the heart of a back four, while Dodi and Mathias Villasanti will again line up in the engine room in their 4-2-3-1 setup.
Former Chelsea and Atletico Madrid man Diego Costa will hope to come in and lead the line from the outset, but Martin Braithwaite may instead get the nod again with support from Yeferson Soteldo, Edenilson and Alexander Aravena.
Juventude could be unchanged from their 2-1 win over Bahia last time out, although Gabriel Taliari does have a claim to come into the attack from the outset after netting the decisive goal off the bench in that game.
Gilberto will hope to keep his place up front, though, having netted 10 goals so far this season in all competitions, while Lucas Barbosa leads the squad with 12 after drawing them level against Bahia and will continue to star on the right wing in their 4-2-3-1 shape.
Midfielder Caique remains sidelined by an injury, meaning Ronaldo should continue to join key man Jadson in the engine room.
Gremio possible starting lineup:
Marchesin; Pedro, Ely, Jemerson, Reinaldo; Dodi, Villasanti; Soteldo, Edenilson, Aravena; Braithwaite
Juventude possible starting lineup:
Gabriel; Lucas, Rodrigo Sam, Boza, Freitas; Jadson, Ronaldo; Barbosa, Mandaca, Carioca; Gilberto
We say: Gremio 2-1 Juventude
With the visitors boosted by a crucial win last time out and aiming to leapfrog their hosts and escape the bottom four with another victory on Wednesday, we anticipate a tight and hard-fought contest.
Gremio do have the quality to hurt Juventude, though, and they will fancy themselves to move further clear of the drop zone with a win on home turf.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Sam Varley
