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Bragantino
Brasileiro | Gameweek 11
Jun 23, 2023 at 1.30am UK
Estadio Nabi Abi Chedid
Flamengo

Bragantino
4 - 0
Flamengo

Santos (40'), Mosquera (49', 81'), Alerrandro (76')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Preview: Bragantino vs. Flamengo - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Friday's Brasileiro clash between Bragantino and Flamengo, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Seeking a fifth straight win in all competitions, South American champions Flamengo visit mid-table Bragantino on Thursday.

While the Rio giants moved up to third in the Serie A table by beating Gremio last time out, Braga have taken just a point from their last two matches in the Campeonato Brasileiro.


Match preview

Flamengo's Victor Hugo celebrates scoring their second goal with teammates on June 8, 2023© Reuters

Continuing their surge up the standings, Flamengo recorded a second successive three-goal win in the Brasileiro by crushing fellow top-six contenders Gremio 3-0 at home in Rio de Janeiro.

Victory at the Maracana saw the Rubro-Negro leapfrog their opponents in the table, and sitting third after 10 rounds, they are only five points adrift of pacesetters Botafogo.

Now on a four-game winning run in the league, and having built a 10-match unbeaten streak in all competitions, Flamengo have also recovered from a slow start to their defence of the Copa Libertadores, which they won for a third time last year.

Jorge Sampaoli's side look set to safely navigate the group stage, after a 2-1 win over Argentina's Racing Club left them needing just to avoid defeat against Ecuadorian outsiders Aucas on the final matchday at the end of this month.

That would ensure progress to the knockout stages of South America's premier club competition, but Brasileiro success is Sampaoli's more immediate priority when his team travel to Sao Paulo.

Helinho celebrates scoring for Bragantino on October 1, 2022© Reuters

By contrast with their more illustrious visitors, Bragantino were only promoted to the elite level of Brazilian football in 2019, but they have gone on to qualify for continental football in each season since.

Last year's 14th-placed finish represented their lowest so far, though, and they now sit 12th in the early stages of their 2023 campaign.

The Sao Paulo side held 2021 double winners Atletico Mineiro to a 1-1 draw last weekend, when Eduardo Sasha's 35th-minute strike helped his team take a point home from Belo Horizonte and kept them in the final Copa Sudamericana qualifying spot.

In this year's competition, Braga drew away at Estudiantes in their most recent continental contest, and having picked up 11 points from five group games to date, victory in their final fixture would ensure they top Group C. First, though, edging towards the top half of the Serie A standings is on the agenda.

After going down to 10 men at the start of their last meeting with Flamengo, before ultimately being beaten 4-1, coach Pedro Caixinha will now aim for a totally different outcome at Nabizao, where his team have won three of five league matches this year and have lost only once.


Bragantino Brasileiro form:


Bragantino form (all competitions):


Flamengo Brasileiro form:


Flamengo form (all competitions):



Team News

Flamengo coach Jorge Sampaoli reacts on April 19, 2023© Reuters

Ahead of the trip to Braganca Paulista, Flamengo coach Jorge Sampaoli will eagerly await the results of medical checks on star striker Gabriel Barbosa, who has been struggling with a thigh problem and is a doubt for Thursday's game.

In addition, Brazil duo Ayrton Lucas and Pedro, and Chile pair Erick Pulgar and Arturo Vidal, are due to return from international duty shortly before the match and must be assessed.

One man certainly missing for the visitors is centre-forward Marinho, who has moved to Fortaleza after having his contract terminated due to misconduct.

Bragantino, meanwhile, will have Matheus Fernandes available again after sitting out the draw with Atletico Mineiro through suspension; however, goalkeeper Cleiton received a third yellow card of the season last time out and must now serve a one-match ban - Lucao is the latter's likely replacement.

The hosts' injury list stubbornly refuses to shorten, as Helinho (knee), Bruninho (thigh), Leo Ortiz (knee), Luan Candido (tibia), Natan (knee) and Talisson (ankle) are among those still sidelined.

Following his equaliser at Mineirao, Eduardo Sasha should start up front. The 31-year-old is Braga's joint-top league scorer on four goals this term, alongside Thiago Borbas, who made his Uruguay debut earlier this week and will not feature for his club as Marcelo Bielsa has indicated he should start for La Celeste against Cuba.


Bragantino possible starting lineup:
Lucao; Hurtado, Realpe, Patrick, Capixaba; Evangelista, Fernandes, Ramires; Mosquera, Sasha, Vitinho

Flamengo possible starting lineup:
Cunha; Franca, Luiz, Bruno, Luis; Maia, Franca; Gerson, Everton; De Arrascaeta, Pedro


SM words green background

We say: Bragantino 1-2 Flamengo

Flamengo have averaged over two goals per game on the road this season, so should expect to score at least once at Nabizao. The Rio-based heavyweights are certainly approaching peak condition, so absence-hit Bragantino could see their winless run roll on.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 3.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 3.5:data


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Written by
Jonathan O'Shea

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Game History

How you voted: Bragantino vs Flamengo

Bragantino
5.9%
Draw
5.9%
Flamengo
88.2%
17
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Botafogo382310559293079
2PalmeirasPalmeiras38227960332773
3FlamengoFlamengo382010861421970
4FortalezaFortaleza381911853391468
5InternacionalInternacional381811953361765
6Sao Paulo381781353431059
7Corinthians381511125445956
8Bahia38158154949053
9Cruzeiro381410144341252
10Vasco da GamaVasco38148164356-1350
11Vitoria38138174552-747
12Atletico Mineiro381114134754-747
13Fluminense381210163339-646
14Gremio38129174450-645
15JuventudeJuventude381112154859-1145
16BragantinoBragantino381014144448-444
17Athletico ParanaenseAthletico PR38119184046-642
18CriciumaCriciuma38911184261-1938
19Atletico GoianienseAtletico GO3879222958-2930
20Cuiaba38612202949-2030


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