Sousa can cause perhaps the biggest shock in the history of the Copa do Brasil should they emerge victorious from the second leg of their third-round tie against Bragantino at Estadio Nabi Abi Chedid on Tuesday.
This tie is all square after the fourth-tier side from Paraiba found a late equaliser at the beginning of this month to earn a 1-1 draw.
Match preview
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The Red Bull club are on the verge of suffering another humiliating early exit from the Copa do Brasil, after being knocked out by third-tier side Ypiranga in the second round a season ago.
Thankfully for Pedro Caixinha's men, however, this decisive fixture takes place at home, where they are undefeated since February in all competitions.
A victory on Tuesday would mark the first time this side will have advanced beyond the third round of this tournament since 2020, when Palmeiras eliminated them in the last 16.
This side have failed to triumph in two of their previous three matches in all competitions when scoring the opening goal but were able to do so the last time out versus Racing Club at the Copa Sudamericana (2-1).
RB Bragantino are undefeated in their last 11 matches in all competitions when they have been even or ahead against their opponents at the interval.
They have not won a second-leg fixture in this competition since June 2021, when they triumphed 2-1 over Fluminense in the third round but were eliminated 3-2 on aggregate.
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Against all odds, Sousa avoided defeat in the opening leg of this tie, extending their unbeaten run at this tournament to three matches.
Down by a goal after 34 minutes and a man short following a 40th-minute expulsion, Paulo Schardong saw a determined group continue to push in the second half, finding an equaliser seven minutes before the 90.
Their opening fixture in this tie was the first time they had conceded a goal in the 2024 Copa do Brasil and the first time they had claimed a result all year despite allowing the first goal of the game.
If they win on Tuesday, they will make it to the last 16 of this tournament for the first time, while it will also be their first-ever victory over a top-flight Brazilian side at the Copa do Brasil.
Dinossauro Verde do Sertao have lost their last two competitive away fixtures, both of which were in Serie D action, losing 2-0 to Treze and Santa Cruz de Natal, respectively.
Sousa have not lost consecutive matches all year, while they have not been beaten on successive occasions since June 2023.
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Team News
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Nathan Camargo is dealing with a sore knee, Andres Hurtado has an ankle issue, Raul is recovering from an ankle sprain and Eduardo Sasha continues to deal with a thigh injury, while none of them are expected to feature for Bragantino on Tuesday.
A 34th-minute penalty converted by Luan Candido was all Braga could manage offensively in the opening match of this tie, leaving it all to play for in the second leg.
A straight red card issued to Jackson in the 40th minute of the opening leg means that the 30-year-old must sit out of this decisive fixture for Sousa.
Batata came on for Diego Ceara in the 60th minute of the first leg and became the hero when he netted the equaliser in the latter stages.
Bragantino possible starting lineup:
Cleiton; Mendes, Henrique, Santos, Candido; Gustavinho, Evangelista, Capixaba; Helinho, Borbas, Bruninho
Sousa possible starting lineup:
Fuso; Iranilson, Cezar, Marcelo, Leozinho; Bala, Hebert, Arua; Charles, Ceara, Potiguar
We say: Bragantino 3-0 Sousa (Bragantino advances 4-1 on aggregate)
Expect to see Sousa hang back and try to frustrate Braga throughout this encounter, but we do not believe that will be enough to see them upset the home side, who seem to be a lot more decisive in the attacking third at Estadio Nabi Abi Chedid.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
