Bragantino will try to close the gap between themselves and Atletico Mineiro in the Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A standings when they host the league leaders on Sunday at Estadio Nabi Abi Chedid.
Massa Bruta ended a two-match winless run in league play with a 2-0 over America Mineiro on Monday, while Atletico now have a six-point advantage atop the table despite a 1-1 draw against Fluminense in their last Serie A fixture.
Match preview
It looks like Braga have regained their confidence over the past couple of weeks as they are in the middle of a very close race for a spot in the Copa Libertadores group stage next season.
After losing to Juventude, Mauricio Barbieri saw his team pick themselves back up to advance into the semi-finals of the Copa Sudamericana before earning their first Serie A victory this month.
They still surrender their fair share of scoring opportunities, but they have been a lot sharper, containing opposing attacks of late, maintaining two consecutive clean sheets in all competitions while earning three shutouts in their last four matches in the top flight.
Currently sitting in fourth in the table, a victory over Galo this weekend could move them up to second with a bit of help, as they are only a point behind Fortaleza and Palmeiras in the standings.
This team have never captured the Brasileiro Serie A, but they are well positioned to make a move with two of their next three league fixtures taking place on their home field.
Longtime fans of Atletico Mineiro have waited 50 years in hopes that their club would be crowned champions of Brazil, and after 17 games, there is plenty of reason to believe that this group can end that drought.
Fresh off a 2-1 win in the first leg of their quarter-final tie with Fluminense in the Copa do Brasil on Thursday, this team have been the model of consistency, winning nine consecutive domestic league matches before rescuing a point against Flu with a late equaliser on Monday.
When they fail to win, they seem to get some help like they did on Monday when their nearest challengers Palmeiras and Fortaleza, could not take advantage of their slip-up.
All season long they have been a tough defensive unit to break down, allowing only 12 goals in the domestic campaign, the fewest among sides in the Brazilian top flight.
In his first stint as manager, Cuca was able to lead this team to the Copa Libertadores title, and at the moment in his second go round, he has them in a position to win that competition once again and a whole lot more as they lead their Copa do Brasil tie and have a comfortable advantage in the Brasileiro Serie A standings.
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Team News
Ytalo scored the winning goal for Braga on Monday, his first in the domestic campaign since July 18, while Gabriel Novaes got his first goal in league play.
Cleiton has faced six shots in his last two competitive fixtures and stopped them all, while Artur picked up his team-leading sixth assist on Monday.
Braga made one change to their starting 11 versus America Mineiro from the team that started in their quarter-final tie with Rosario Central as Jadsom replaced Raul in midfield.
Hulk scored the winning goal for Atletico in their Copa do Brasil tie late in injury time, and he leads the team domestically with seven so far, putting him one back of the league lead currently held by Bruno Henrique, Edenilson and Gilberto, who have scored eight for Flamengo, Internacional and Bahia respectively.
The only change to the Galo starting 11 from their match on Monday to Thursday was Igor Rabello, who replaced Nathan in central defence.
Nacho Fernandez assisted their winning goal on Thursday and is currently third on the team in league scoring with three, just one back of Jefferson Savarino.
Bragantino possible starting lineup:
Cleiton; Edimar, Natan, Bruno, Aderlan; Vitinho, Jadsom; Ramires, Novaes, Artur; Ytalo
Atletico Mineiro possible starting lineup:
Everson; Tche Tche, Rabello, Rever, Dodo; Allan, Calebe; Keno, Sasha, Savarino; Hulk
We say: Bragantino 0-2 Atletico Mineiro
Over the last couple of months, it seems as though the pressure of playing at home has got to Braga, particularly domestically, where they have only won once since the start of July.
Atletico Mineiro had a minor setback in their last league fixture, so expect that to be a wake-up call for this team to be razor-sharp like they have been throughout the summer.
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