Blooming vs Bragantino – News and Probable Lineups

This Friday morning, Red Bull Bragantino heads to the Estadio Ramon Tahuichi Aguilera in Santa Cruz de la Sierra to take on Blooming in the fourth round of Group H in the Copa Sudamericana.

Currently sitting with just three points out of a possible nine, Massa Bruta is in dire need of a win to maintain their hopes for qualification, whereas Blooming finds themselves at the bottom of the table with only one point, looking to reverse their fortunes and stay in contention for the knockout stages.

Match overview

After matchday three, the standings in Group H of the 2026 Sudamericana have become more defined, with River Plate leading with seven points, one ahead of Carabobo in second. Red Bull Bragantino is currently third in the table, having accumulated three points from nine, making this weekend’s fixture crucial for their aspirations of reaching the knockout rounds.

The team from Sao Paulo has faced challenges with consistency in continental competition, losing two of their three matches so far, with their only victory being a 3-2 win over Blooming in April’s earlier match at the Estadio Nabi Abi Chedid.

At home, however, Massa Bruta has claimed a reasonable number of victories in the Campeonato Brasileirao Serie A, securing six wins in their 14 matches to date, including a 2-1 success against Chapecoense last Sunday, which elevated them to seventh place in the standings.

The win against Chapecoense ended a streak of three consecutive matches without a victory across all competitions, and Vagner Mancini’s players will aim to leverage that momentum as they seek to improve their standing in the Sudamericana.

In contrast, Blooming has experienced differing fortunes in league play compared to continental performance. Under the guidance of Mauricio Soria, they hold the sixth position in the Bolivian top flight, having gathered eight points from their initial five matches this season.

However, La Academia has yet to secure a win in the Sudamericana, sitting last in the group after starting their campaign with a 1-1 draw against River Plate on April 9, followed by consecutive losses to Bragantino and Carabobo.

Despite Blooming’s decent attacking play, having found the net three times in three group matches, they have struggled defensively, conceding six goals and failing to keep a clean sheet in seven games across all competitions since their 5-0 victory over Guabira on April 4.

After three successive away games without a win, the Bolivian side will be eager to enjoy the comforts of home. They have managed two victories and one draw in their last three encounters at the Estadio Ramon Tahuichi and remain unbeaten in six of their seven matches since the beginning of March.

Team News

Blooming will be without essential midfielder Matias Abisab, who is banned after his red card against Carabobo last Thursday, and Danny Bejarano is expected to take over in the midfield role.

A positive for the team is the return of 29-year-old defender Diago Gimenez, who is now eligible for selection after serving his suspension from the loss to Carabobo.

In terms of attack, Blooming is likely to employ a pairing of Bayron Garces and Anthony Vasquez, while Roberto Hinojosa will have more freedom on the flanks to create chances.

For Red Bull Bragantino, the notable absence will be Alix Vinicius, suspended due to his dismissal in the encounter against River Plate last Friday. His absence will probably see Pedro Henrique and Gustavo Marques team up in defense, with Ignacio Sosa returning after serving a suspension.

On the injury list, Guzman Rodriguez, Davi Gomes, Fabricio, and Vanderlan are out, while Agustin Sant’Anna continues to work towards full fitness following a hamstring injury.

Isidro Pitta scored twice in the earlier 3-2 win over Blooming in April, including the dramatic last-gasp winner, and the 26-year-old forward will aim to replicate that performance.

Blooming probable starting XI:

Uraezana; Vila, Gimenez, Valverde; Enoumba, Bejarano, Villarroel, Hinojosa, Villarroel; Garces, Vasquez

Bragantino probable starting XI:

Clayton; Hurtado, Henrique, Marques, Capixaba; Girotto, Fernandes; Barbosa, Herrera, Sasha; Pitta

Having finished the previous match with ten men, Bragantino demonstrated resilience in clinching a 3-2 win over Blooming back in February, and the Argentine side is anticipated to adopt a more assertive style in front of their supporters this Friday.

Facing the threat of elimination, Bragantino will look to rely on Isidro Pitta, who has been in fine form after his impressive display in the earlier fixture. While we expect Blooming to put forth a strong effort, we believe Massa Bruta will grow stronger as the match progresses, ultimately securing all three points.