Bragantino vs Palmeiras – News and Probable Lineups

This Sunday, the Estadio Cicero de Souza Marques will be the venue for a fierce Sao Paulo state derby as RB Bragantino faces off against Palmeiras in the Brasileiro. Both teams are positioned in the upper half of the standings and are keen to secure three vital points despite competing in multiple tournaments.

Bragantino comes into this match following an exciting home victory against Remo with a high score, which propelled them to eighth place. Meanwhile, Palmeiras secured a win against Athletico Paranaense, keeping their six-point lead at the top of the table intact.

Match overview

After a draw in their Copa do Brasil opener, Bragantino now refocuses on the Brasileiro with aims of breaking into the top five. Recent positive performances include wins over Blooming (3-2 in the Copa Sudamericana) and Remo (4-2 in the Brasileiro), along with a draw against Mirassol in the Copa do Brasil that have boosted morale at the club.

Lucas Barbosa got the first goal against Mirassol but inadvertently scored an own goal that equalized the score. The second leg, which will determine who advances to the last 16, is scheduled for 13 May at the Estadio Jose Maria de Campos Maia.

In the Brasileirao, Bragantino’s performance has been mixed, with fluctuations between victories and losses. However, their last four matches have displayed a bit more consistency, achieving three wins and one defeat. They currently hold 17 points with a goal difference of +1 (15 goals scored, 14 conceded).

Paraguayan striker Isidro Pitta has been a standout performer, notching two goals against Remo and scoring four times in his last four league appearances, making him the top scorer in the Brasileiro so far.

This match presents an opportunity for Vagner Mancini’s side to rectify a dismal home record against Palmeiras since their promotion to the top tier in 2020. Across all competitions, Bragantino has secured just three victories from 11 home encounters with their rivals.

Palmeiras, under the guidance of Abel Ferreira, remains in outstanding form and extended their unbeaten streak to ten matches last Thursday. Goals from Ramon Sosa (twice) and Felipe Anderson led to a comfortable 3-0 victory over Jacuipense in the Copa do Brasil, effectively securing their place in the last 16.

The club is now shifting its focus back to the league, where they enjoy a six-point lead over both Flamengo and Fluminense (both with 23 points). Palmeiras has amassed 29 points from nine wins, two draws, and one defeat.

In their previous match, a packed Allianz Parque witnessed captain Gustavo Gomez score the decisive goal to defeat Athletico-PR, a match which Abel missed due to one of his STJD suspensions. He is back at the helm for this fixture since the suspension only affected the last league game.

This season, Palmeiras’ collective strength has been notable, with their 22 league goals distributed among ten different players. Currently, five players share the top scorer status for the club, each with three goals: Jhon Arias, Vitor Roque, Gustavo Gomez, Flaco Lopez, and Allan.

Team News

Bragantino arrives with a lengthy list of injuries. Davi Gomes and Guzman Rodriguez are both sidelined due to knee ligament injuries, while Vanderlan is out indefinitely following an operation to address an arteriovenous malformation.

Fabricio, Herrera, Eduardo, and Agustin Sant’Anna are dealing with muscular issues, although Sasha and Herrera have returned to the squad in time for the draw against Mirassol.

The latest player absent is center-back Alix Vinicius, who is suspended after accruing three yellow cards in the last game. Pedro Henrique is anticipated to partner Gustavo Marques in central defense.

For Palmeiras, the most significant setback is the injury to Vitor Roque. The striker rejoined the starting XI against Jacuipense but had to leave the field just 15 minutes into the match after sustaining a knock.

Examinations conducted on Friday confirmed a syndesmosis injury to his ankle that necessitates surgery, with no set date for his return. Center-back Murilo is also unavailable due to suspension from yellow card accumulation, so Bruno Fuchs is expected to step in at defense.

Several regular starters who were rested midweek are likely to return. Piquerez is still out with an ankle injury similar to Roque’s; however, left-back Jefte’s return to the squad is a positive sign.

Bragantino probable starting XI:

Volpi; Hurtado, Henrique, Marques, Capixaba; Gabriel, Fernandes; Braz, Barbosa, Vinicinho; Pitta

Palmeiras probable starting XI:

Miguel; Giay, Gomez, Fuchs, Arthur; Marlon, Pereira, Allan, Mauricio; Arias, Lopez

The current form of both teams and their historical encounters indicate that two attacking sides are likely to prefer quick transitions, which could lead to a high-scoring affair.

Five of Bragantino’s last six matches at home have concluded with over 2.5 goals, while Palmeiras has proved to be the most potent attacking side in the league thus far, netting 22 goals. Based on this, we anticipate an entertaining draw between these two Sao Paulo clubs.