High-flying Ceara will be looking to pick up a fourth win on the bounce for the first time since March when they visit the Estadio Alfredo Jaconi to take on Juventude on Sunday.

Eduardo Baptista's side, who are currently on a nine-game losing streak, will be seeking to end this dry spell and begin their surge from the relegation zone.

Match preview

Juventude continue to struggle for results in the Serie A as they were on the receiving end of a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Flamengo on Thursday.

In a one-sided affair at the Estadio Nacional de Brasilia, goals from Everton Ribeiro, Lazaro and a brace from 25-year-old forward Pedro saw the hosts cruise to their eighth win of the season.

Baptista's side have now failed to taste victory in any of their last nine league outings, picking up three draws and losing six since a 1-0 home victory over Fluminense on June 5.

Juventude have now managed just two wins, seven draws and lost nine of their 18 games so far to collect 13 points and sit rooted to the bottom of the league table, six points off 16th-placed Coritiba outside the drop zone.

Their underwhelming run of results has been in no small part down to their struggles in defence, a key area needing tinkering as O Azul have conceded the most goals in the league so far (32).

Meanwhile, Ceara maintained their recent string of impressive displays as they held firm to claim a slender 1-0 victory over Avai last time out.

In an action-packed contest at the Arena Castelao, 31-year-old midfielder Vina scored the only goal of the game on the stroke of half time to hand the Leao da Ilha their ninth defeat of the season.

Marquinhos Santos's men have now won each of their last three games across all competitions, including a 1-0 victory over Fortaleza in the second leg of their Copa do Brasil round-of-16 clash on July 14.

With 24 points from 18 games, Sunday's visitors are currently 11th in the Brasileiro Serie A standings, but could potentially move level on points with seventh-placed Flamengo with all three points this weekend.

Next up is an opposing side who are winless in seven of the last eight meetings between the teams and Ceara will be backing themselves to extend their dominance in this fixture and pick up a fourth straight win for the first time in four months.

Team News

Juventude will take to the pitch without the services of Jadson, who is currently suspended after picking up a straight red 37 minutes into the game against Flamengo on Thursday.

On the injury front, Baptista will be unable to call upon the services of Brazilian defender Paulo Mirando, who suffered a knee problem in the game against Fortaleza on May 29.

Fellow countryman Vitor Mendes is also set to sit out his eighth consecutive game after suffering a thigh injury against Corinthians on June 11.

Meanwhile, Ceara will be without Victor Luis and 24-year-old Erick, who are currently recuperating from thigh and collarbone injuries respectively.

Vina has been instrumental in Ceara's resurgence in recent weeks and the Brazilian midfielder, who boasts four goal involvements in his last three games, should lead the attack once again, teaming up with Ze Roberto and Stiven Mendoza in the final third.

Juventude possible starting lineup:
Cesar; Soares, Thalisson, Forster, Moraes; Yuri, Irmer; Henrique, Marlon, Edinho; Bueno

Ceara possible starting lineup:
Ricardo; Paraiba, Messias, Otavio, Pacheco; Richardson, Coelho; Lima, Vina, Mendoza; Roberto

We say: Juventude 1-2 Ceara

Ceara have hit their stride in recent weeks and head into the weekend as one of three teams who have won their last two games in the Serie A. Santos's men take on an out-of-sorts Juventude side who have failed to taste victory in nine consecutive outings, and we predict that they will maintain their fine run of results by claiming all three points.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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