Preview: Juventude vs. Cuiaba - prediction, team news, lineups

With both sides looking to build on growing unbeaten runs in the Brazilian top flight, Juventude and Cuiaba will meet on Saturday at the Estadio Alfredo Jaconi.

An upturn in form has seen the hosts rise to 13th place in the Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A table, while their visitors sit in 11th spot with just a one-point lead.

Match preview

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After winning promotion from the second tier last year, Juventude had a tough start to the new campaign, collecting just two points from their opening four games to fall into the drop zone.

Marquinhos Santos's men quickly adjusted though, winning three of their next four games before another small dip saw them drop back down to 14th.

Following a narrow 2-1 defeat to league leaders Atletico Mineiro, Juve bounced back in style with a 2-1 away victory over title-chasing Bragantino, as Wagner netted a brace off the bench in the final 15 minutes to snatch all three points after Helinho's early opener for the hosts.

Since that eye-catching win, Santos's men have played out four consecutive 1-1 draws, taking points from Fortaleza, Sao Paulo, Fluminense and Corinthians.

In the most recent outing, they were held to a somewhat disappointing point as Roger Guedes drew Corinthians level in the 85th minute after Ricardo Bueno gave Juve the lead.

Nonetheless, they should certainly be pleased with their improved consistency in recent weeks, taking them away from the bottom four, and will look to stretch the league unbeaten run to six games with what would be another impressive home result on Saturday.

They take on a Cuiaba side who arrive looking to go four games without a defeat, having lost just one of their last seven outings in the Brazilian top flight.

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Jorginho's side had a similarly slow start to that of their opponents, sitting 17th with eight points from the opening 10 games before they recently kicked into gear.

They seemed to put a disappointing run to an end with a 3-2 victory over basement side Chapecoense, but that was followed by a defeat to Corinthians and draws with Internacional and Bahia.

The Dourado followed those draws up with an impressive 1-0 win over Athletico Paranaense, who sat sixth at the time, before bouncing back from a defeat to Gremio with an eye-catching 2-0 victory over title-chasing Palmeiras, as Clayson put them ahead in the second minute and Uillian Correia sealed the points with an injury-time finish.

They now come into Saturday's clash in an impressive run of form, having followed that victory up with a goalless draw against third-placed Fortaleza and a 2-1 win over Santos last time out, thanks to goals from Jonathan Cafu and Elton.

Jorginho's men will look to continue their impressive form with the chance to rise as high as seventh spot with a victory on Saturday.

Team News

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Juventude will be boosted by the returns of Matheus Jesus and Michel Macedo, after they were ineligible to play against Corinthians, given that they both arrived on loan from the opponents in the summer.

However, they will remain without important midfielder Elton, while Paulo Henrique and Wescley are both doubts.

Ricardo Bueno should continue to lead the line after he opened the scoring last time out, having also recently netted a 91st-minute equaliser against Sao Paulo.

Experienced forward Elton will be pushing for a starting spot for Cuiaba, having come off the bench to hit an 88th-minute winner in their clash with Santos last time out.

At the other end of the pitch, Paulao and Marllon should continue to partner up at the heart of a back four, having shown impressive solidity in recent weeks.

They will be boosted by the return of midfielder Pepe, who served a suspension last time out for accumulating three league yellow cards.

Juventude possible starting lineup:
Carne; Macedo, Mendes, Forster, Matheus; Jadson, Jesus, Castilho; Paulinho, Bueno, Capixaba

Cuiaba possible starting lineup:
Walter; Lucas, Marllon, Paulao, Uendel; Pepe, Auremir; Cafu, Cabrera, Clayson; Elton

We say: Juventude 1-1 Cuiaba

In a clash between two sides seemingly playing at their best, we do not quite see either outclassing the other, instead opting for a low-scoring draw.

Cuiaba have arguably posted more impressive results in recent weeks, but their hosts have proven themselves to be difficult to beat, and both should be relatively pleased with a draw.