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

Gremio will host Bragantino on Tuesday, with the home side in a precarious position, sitting in 19th position - seven points adrift of safety.

Meanwhile, the visitors are battling for a place in the top four, which would guarantee them a spot in next season's Copa Libertadores group stage.

Match preview

© Reuters

With only seven games remaining, Gremio's hopes of remaining in the Campeonato Brasileiro are dwindling, having lost five of their last six matches.

After suffering four consecutive defeats, Gremio managed a narrow home victory over Fluminense, but they were unable to build on that result at the weekend.

On Saturday, Vagner Mancini's side fell to a 3-1 defeat, with Ferreira's goal the only positive from a disappointing performance.

Mancini will be fully aware that if his side are to avoid the drop then a winning run is required, and the Gremio boss can take some encouragement from two victories in their previous three home games.

Tuesday's hosts kept a clean sheet in their last fixture at the Arena do Gremio, which would have given the side a much-needed boost having conceded nine in the four home games prior to that encounter, and the Gremio defence will need to be solid against Bragintino if they are to clinch consecutive home victories.

© Reuters

Bragantino head into the encounter with one eye on the Copa Sudamericana final on Saturday, where they will face fellow Brazilian side Athletico Paranaense.

The visitors are also in a slightly more confident mood having ended a run of three consecutive defeats at the weekend, when they swept aside Fortaleza.

Helinho and Ytalo grabbed a goal apiece in the first half, before Artur scored from the spot in the second period to seal a comfortable 3-0 victory.

The Bragantino forward line would have been boosted by the win, after failing to score in the three games prior to the Fortaleza clash.

Mauricio Barbieri's side will be looking to end a four-game winless away run on Tuesday, having only collected two points from their previous four away fixtures.

Team News

© Reuters

Gremio will have to cope without the services of Miguel Borja, Gabriel Chapeco and Mathias Villasanti, who are all away on international duty.

Douglas Costa is also set to miss the encounter due to a muscle injury.

After coming into start against America Mineiro, Ferreira will keep his place, and he will be looking to score in consecutive games.

Bragantino are without Jan Hurtado, who is away on international duty with Venezuela.

Thigh injuries rule the trio of Vitinho, Lucas Evangelista and Rafael Luiz out of the contest.

There are also other injury absentees for the visitors, with Luan Candido, Raul and Bruno Tubarao all out of Tuesday's encounter.

Gremio possible starting lineup:
Brenno; Vanderson, Geromel, Ruan, Cortez; Darlan, Silva, Campaz; Alisson, Ferreira, Souza

Bragantino possible starting lineup:
Cleiton; Aderland, Bruno, Ortiz, Edimar; Jadsom, Ramires, Praxedes; Artur, Helinho, Ytalo

We say: Gremio 1-0 Bragantino

Bragantino may be slightly distracted by the Copa Sudamericana final on Saturday, and with no players wanting to pick up injuries before that big occasion there could be a drop off in intensity from the visitors.

We expect the game to be close, but we think that Gremio will be the hungrier side, and that they will just edge out Bragantino on Tuesday.

Previews by email