Two sides in the wrong half of the the Brasileiro standings meet at Estadio Antonio Accioly on Sunday, as Juventude take on Atletico Goianiense.

While the hosts have taken maximum points from both of their last two league fixtures, their visitors from Rio Grande do Sul already look set for another season of struggle, after narrowly escaping the drop last year.

Match preview

After a year away from the club, 1994 World Cup-winner Jorginho stepped back into the dugout as head coach of Atletico Goianiense in May, and the former Bayern Munich full-back's influence has led to an upturn in fortunes over recent weeks.

Since the sacking of Umberto Louzer, things have progressed along a generally positive trajectory at the club from the central state of Goias, and Atletico have lost just two of their last six league matches - posting three wins in the process.

Last week, consecutive victories over Avai and Fluminense helped Dragao to inch up the table from their previously lowly station, setting them up nicely for Thursday night's clash with Palmeiras - however, they lost 4-2 against the Brasileiro leaders.

Despite securing progress to the knockout stage of the Copa Sudamericana, a total of 13 points from their opening 12 matches of the campaign leaves Atletico amid the thick of a tightly-packed lower section of the standings, as they seek to improve on last term's ninth-placed league finish.

Certainly, having returned to the relegation zone this week, their minimum aim will be to avoid the trapdoor back to Serie B, from where they last emerged in 2019.

Juventude, meanwhile, left the second tier as recently as 2021, and though they ultimately finished 16th in their first Serie A campaign for over a decade, their start to the current season suggests it could be a tough road ahead for the team from Caxias do Sul.

Three successive losses before travelling to Goias will undoubtedly sap confidence in Eduardo Baptista's squad, and the experienced coach has not yet been able to solve his side's defensive woes - they lead the league in goals conceded so far.

Juve continued to leak goals at a rate of two per game in their most recent outings, and following a 2-0 defeat at Corinthians last weekend, their 2-1 loss at the hands of Santos on Wednesday was particularly disheartening.

Leading by a goal approaching half-time, with what turned out to be the only shot on target they would manage all game, the Alviverde saw midfielder Yuri sent off during first-half stoppage time and then went on to concede twice after the interval.

Despite slumping to second from bottom of the Serie A standings, though, Juventude are still only three points from safety, and victory on Sunday would haul them level with their in-form opponents.

Team News

Having recently switched from centre-forward to the right flank, Atletico striker Wellington Rato should continue to play out wide on Sunday, with Diego Churin again leading the line; Luiz Fernando featuring on the left of the hosts' attacking trident.

However, the defensive duo of Dudu (ankle) and Wanderson (muscular) both remain unavailable due to injury, while Gabriel Baralhas and Edson Fernando are also doubtful. Arthur Henrique is suspended following his dismissal in midweek.

Meanwhile, Juventude coach Eduardo Baptista has intimated that he now intends to utilise his most experienced players more, to help reverse a worrying trend of results.

To that end, well-travelled striker Ricardo Bueno made his comeback last week, after being left out of the starting XI since the second round, and he should partner Paraguayan loanee Isidro Pitta up front.

Though goalkeeper Felipe Alves and defender Paulo Miranda remain on the treatment table, both are expected to return within the next few weeks, while the absence of suspended Yuri could be covered by Darlan Mendes, who is currently on loan from Gremio.

Atletico Goianiense possible starting lineup:
Ronaldo; Hayner, Edson, Ramon, Jefferson; Marlon, Baralhas, Rickson; Rato, Churin, Fernando

Juventude possible starting lineup:
Cesar; Matheus, Forster, Thalisson; Alves, Kim, Jadson, Mendes, Capixaba; Ruiz, Pitta

We say: Atletico Goianiense 2-0 Juventude

With home advantage against a side struggling to keep the back door shut, Atletico are well-placed to register another three points this weekend, while prolonging Juve's misery.

Despite a recent reshuffle in attack, the visitors have also been lightweight up front this term, so may not even trouble the scorers.

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