After a two-week journey in the Copa Libertadores, Bragantino return to Brasileiro action on Saturday when they travel to Goias.
The visitors exited the competition in midweek after extending their winless run, whilst the hosts were narrowly beaten at giants Flamengo in league action last time out.
Match preview
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After recording their first wins of the Brasileiro campaign in successive weeks, Goias were brought back down to earth with a 1-0 loss at Rubro-Negro.
Considering how heavily the odds were stacked against them, Jair Ventura's side performed admirably in their display, but ultimately Pedro's goal just 17 minutes into the encounter proved to be the difference.
The newly-promoted side still sit outside of the relegation places in 15th spot ahead of matchday eight at the weekend, but that all could change in an instant during the opening stages of the campaign.
Ventura and his side will possess confidence in picking up a positive result at Estadio Haile Pinheiro on Saturday though, despite facing another superior opponent, after beginning the 2022 Brasileiro season with an unbeaten home record in their three matches played on home soil so far.
After boasting a record of four wins and just one defeat from six meetings with Bragantino in Brasileiro Serie B, Goias have since lost two and drawn one in their three meetings since, including the 2-1 defeat in the Copa do Brasil in April, so the hosts will be out for revenge when they welcome Bragantino back again on Saturday.
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Meanwhile, Bragantino make the trip to Goias on the back of a six-game winless run across all competitions, which concluded with their exit from the Copa Libertadores on Tuesday.
The Red Bull outfit headed into their trip with Uruguayan outfit Nacional similarly matched, and with destiny in their own hands regarding progression to the next stage.
However, Mauricio Barbieri's side were comprehensively dispatched by a 3-0 scoreline across South America, with their high defensive line being exposed far too often in the defeat.
Massa Bruta must turn their attentions back to domestic action following their disappointing exit though, with their fortunes in Brasileiro not being too positive either.
Saturday's visitors head into the game down in 13th, just two places and one point above their hosts, following two defeats and a draw in the competition, albeit against three of the top four sides - Corinthians, Atletico Mineiro and Palmeiras.
Barbieri will be looking for his side to put in a much-improved display though, with it in turn lifting them into the top half of the table should it produce a victory for the first time since the 1-0 success at struggling Ceara back in April.
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Team News
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Goias will remain without at least a trio of players again on Saturday, with Reynaldo, Hugo and Luiz Filipe still on the sidelines.
The latter is out for the season with a serious knee injury, and the trio could be joined by winger Vinicius again, who continues to struggle with a hamstring problem.
With another decent performance from his side despite the result at Flamengo last time out, Ventura may well stick with an unchanged starting 11.
As for the visitors, a small outbreak of COVID-19 saw Aderlan, Luan Candido and Raul miss out in the Copa Libertadores defeat in midweek, and all three should miss out again on Saturday.
A trio of players could return from injuries however, with Emiliano Martinez, Carlos Eduardo and Gabriel Novaes all pushing to return from recent absences.
Changes are expected from the one that suffered a significant defeat in Uruguay in the week, with the likes of Leonardo Realpe and Lucas Evangelista pushing to return to the starting lineup, but the experienced Ytalo should continue to lead the line after netting seven goals across the last two months.
Goias possible starting lineup:
Tadeu; Dieguinho, Da Silva, Sidimar, Caetano, Danilo; Apodi, Elvis, C Vinicius, Belmonte; Raul
Bragantino possible starting lineup:
Cleiton; Hurtado, Ortiz, Realpe, Ramon; Jadsom, Evangelista; Artur, Praxedes, Helinho; Ytalo
We say: Goias 1-1 Bragantino
With Bragantino heading into this one on the back of some poor form, as well as a tiring trip to Uruguay in midweek, we can see the hosts nicking a positive result here.
Goias have started solidly on home soil following their promotion, so we can see the visitors enduring another tough day when they visit the Estadio Haile Pinheiro on Saturday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Matthew Tranter
