Preview: Sport Recife vs. Juventude - prediction, team news, lineups

Sport Recife will look to take further steps to moving outside of the Brasileiro relegation zone when they play host to Juventude on Wednesday evening.

While the visitors currently sit in 15th position, defeat at Ilha do Retiro will see their opponents cut the gap to four points.

Match preview

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On the back of eight games without a goal and their club sitting well adrift of safety, Sport supporters would have been forgiven for being pessimistic ahead of travelling to relegation rivals Gremio.

However, second-half goals from Gustavo and Mikael earned Leao do Norte a famous 2-1 win, Sport now within four points of 16th-placed Santos.

Even though his team have played at least a game more than the sides above them, recently-appointed boss Gustavo Florentin will be delighted and relieved regarding the weekend's result in equal measure.

Remarkably, it was the first time that Sport had scored at least two goals in a fixture since May 31, a period stretching 21 matches.

Juventude have also endured a relatively bleak run in Brazil's top flight, recording just one win in eight encounters played since August 22.

Nevertheless, five draws, the latest coming against Palmeiras at the weekend, have kept Juve ticking over and outside of the bottom four.

Marquinhos Santos will acknowledge that his team need to get another victory on the board as soon as possible, preferably against one of the clubs below them in the standings.

Unlike their hosts, goals have not proven to be an issue with Juventude scoring in 11 successive matches, accumulating a total of 14 strikes.

Ricardo Bueno and Guilherme Castilho have impressed in recent weeks, the pair contributing three goals apiece during the last five games.

Team News

Regardless of the short turnaround, Florentin will likely look to name a similar Sport XI to the one which started on Sunday night.

Everton Felipe appears likely to replace the injured Thiago Lopes in midfield, while Chico is an option in defence if Santos opts for a switch in that area of the pitch.

Juventude boss Santos is expected to be of the same thinking as his opposite number after the 1-1 draw at Palmeiras.

Barring any late fitness issues, the likes of Fernando Pacheco, Didi and Wescley are likely to remain among the replacements.

Despite having recently returned from suspension, Rafael Forster is another player who may stay on the substitutes' bench.

Sport Recife possible starting lineup:
Mailson; Ewerthon, Thyere, Sabino, Sander; Gustavo, Felipe, Marcao, Hernanes, Everaldo; Mikael

Juventude possible starting lineup:
Friedrich; Macedo, Quintero, Mendes, Matheus; Sorriso, Castilho, Jadson, Dawhan, Capixaba; Roberson

We say: Sport Recife 1-1 Juventude

Sport will be full of confidence given the magnitude of their victory at the weekend. However, that may not necessarily play into their favour with Juventude more likely to be content with a share of the spoils from this fixture.