Aiming for safe passage into the fourth round of the competition, an in-form Juventude side will welcome Internacional to Estadio Alfredo Jaconi for the second leg of their third-round Copa do Brasil clash.
Verdao possess a one-goal advantage heading into this weekend's deciding match, meaning that the Reds will need to produce something magical on the road to prevent an early elimination.
Match preview
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Following their second-placed finish in the Brazilian second division last season - and promotion back to the Brasileiro at the first attempt as a result - Juventude are showing ambitions higher than merely avoiding relegation this season, with Saturday's hosts enjoying back-to-back victories recently.
The most recent of those successes arrived in the first leg of this Copa do Brasil tie at Estadio Jose Pinheiro Borda on Wednesday evening, when a 95th-minute winner from midfielder Luis Oyama ensured that Verdao grabbed a narrow advantage heading into the all-important second leg.
With Juventude picking up a 3-0 victory over relegation-threatened Gremio last weekend, Verdao have their Brasileiro house in order as they fight in the Copa do Brasil this weekend, with Roger Machado's troops sitting comfortably in 12th place, seven points ahead of Corinthians in 17th.
Although league form often goes out of the window during the heat of a knockout clash, Juventude will take massive confidence from their record at Estadio Alfredo Jaconi ahead of this one, with the hosts winning five and drawing two of their seven Brasileiro home matches in 2024.
Verdao have relative pedigree in this competition, lifting the final Copa do Brasil trophy of the 20th century in 1999 when the tournament enjoyed its highest-ever attendances, with Juventude securing a two-legged win over Botafogo in the final.
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With a 74th-minute equaliser from Ecuadorian legend Enner Valencia being outweighed by strikes from Gilberto and Oyama in the first leg, Internacional extended their winless run across all competitions to five matches, placing further pressure on Eduardo Coudet to improve his side's fortunes.
The Reds suffered defeat at the hands of Vasco da Gama at the same venue and by an identical scoreline last weekend, when second-half goals from Adson and substitute defender Lyncon were enough to hand Rafael Paiva's visitors all three points at Estadio Jose Pinheiro Borda in the Brasileiro.
Despite their obvious struggles since the end of June, Internacional are still able to boast a commendable defensive record which should stand them in good stead this weekend, with the visitors conceding only 11 goals in 13 league matches this year, a ratio only title-chasing Palmeiras can match.
In the league standings, the Reds are ahead of 12th-placed Juventude courtesy of a superior goal difference, with both sides targeting places in the Copa Sudamericana as a minimum this season, as well as nurturing ambitions of making a run to the latter stages of the Copa do Brasil.
As is the case with Saturday's opponents Juventude, Internacional have lifted the Brazilian Cup on one occasion, also in the 1990s, with the Reds conquering the challenge of Fluminense in the final to win the 1992 edition of the competition.
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Team News
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Juventude remain without the services of Edson Carioca, who is yet to make an appearance for the club this season because of a serious thigh injury.
Verdao are also unable to call upon the talents of winger Kleiton until later this month, with the 25-year-old making just one league appearance this year before picking up a knock.
Marcelino was beginning to establish himself as first choice on the left wing before he suffered a thigh injury during in the win over Vasco da Gama on June 20.
Internacional are missing the experience of former Bayer Leverkusen star Charles Aranguiz in their engine room, with the 100-time Chile international nursing a sprained ankle.
The Reds are also short of options at the top end of the pitch due to the thigh issue of Lucca, who is navigating his second full campaign in the Brazilian top flight.
Juventude possible starting lineup:
Gabriel; Lucas, Sam, Abner, Ruschel; Jadson, Caique, Barbosa, Jean, Farias; Gilberto
Internacional possible starting lineup:
Anthoni; Bustos, Vitao, Mercado, Renan; Henrique, Fernando; Wesley, Patrick, Alario; Valencia
We say: Juventude 1-1 Internacional (Juventude win 3-2 on aggregate)
Enjoying a seven-match unbeaten streak on home soil in the Brasileiro, Juventude should be confident of translating that stellar league form into a Copa do Brasil result and subsequent progression this weekend.
Facing a one-goal deficit, Internacional will need to be the aggressors on Saturday, a role that does not particularly suit a side who are known for their pragmatism and defensive prowess.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Carter White
