Gremio and Flamengo will square off on Wednesday in a game with major implications at both ends of the Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A table.

The hosts have kept their survival hopes alive with back-to-back wins, while their visitors are eight points off top spot with five games to go and have no room for error if they are to keep the pressure on Atletico Mineiro.

Match preview

Brazilian giants Gremio have had to endure a particularly poor campaign in the top flight, and, sitting seven points adrift of safety with seven games to go, they looked all but condemned to relegation.

Vagner Mancini's side have now given themselves a fighting chance with consecutive wins, having firstly thrashed high-flying Bragantino 3-0 thanks to goals from Diego Souza, Lucas Silva and Jhonata Robert.

They made it two wins on the bounce on Saturday, as Silva was again on the scoresheet alongside Thiago Santos and a Laercio own goal in a 3-1 win over basement side Chapecoense.

As a result of those two vital results, the Imortal Tricolor have risen to 18th spot, with a four-point gap between themselves and 16th-placed Juventude.

With just five games left to bridge that gap, Mancini's men will be aware that they have no room for error if they are to keep hold of a slim chance of survival, and they will be desperate to make it three straight wins on Wednesday.

They could not face many tougher tests though, as Flamengo arrive in a formidable run of form.

The Rubro-Negro have established themselves as title contenders in the second half of the season and have now won six and drawn two of their last eight league outings to cement themselves in the top two.

Renato Gaucho's side made it four consecutive top-flight victories on Saturday, as early goals from Gabriel Barbosa and Andreas Pereira saw them earn a 2-1 away win over Internacional, after Bruno Henrique snatched all three points with a 94th-minute winner in the previous clash with Corinthians.

Despite their fine form, Atletico Mineiro remain consistent at the summit, and, with an eight-point lead at this stage of the campaign, it is increasingly likely that Gaucho's men will fall short in their bid to defend the title they won last term.

Nonetheless, the Rubro-Negro can simply focus on winning their games and hoping for any mistakes, and they will set out to make in five in a row when they travel on Wednesday.

Team News

Despite the busy schedule at this stage of the campaign, Gremio will know that they cannot afford to slip up, and Mancini should deploy a relatively unchanged side as a result.

Colombia international Miguel Borja will be pushing to return to the side and could give striker Diego Souza a rest, after he hit four goals in his first seven league appearances of the campaign.

Lucas Silva and Thiago Santos will again be trusted to handle business in the centre, while both got on the scoresheet in the recent win over Chapecoense.

Flamengo arguably resorted to a full-strength side last time out after rotating the squad, and we should certainly see a similar starting XI on Wednesday.

Gabriel Barbosa netted his 11th goal of the season in just 16 league outings in that match, and he will again lead the line, while the return of Giorgian de Arrascaeta brings more quality to the wings alongside the likes of Everton Ribeiro and Michael.

Andreas Pereira and Willian Arao reformed their impressive midfield pairing last time out, and we will see the duo again handle business in front of centre-backs David Luiz and Rodrigo Caio.

Gremio possible starting lineup:
Chapeco; Rafinha, Geromel, Kannemann, Cortez; Santos, Silva; Robert, Campaz, Ferreira; Borja

Flamengo possible starting lineup:
Alves; Isla, Caio, Luiz, Luis; Arao, Pereira; Ribeiro, Vitinho, Michael; Barbosa

We say: Gremio 0-2 Flamengo

Despite Gremio's upturn in form and their desperation to avoid the drop, we simply cannot look past an away win on Wednesday.

Flamengo have seen off all comers in recent weeks, and they should have enough quality to earn all three points, even considering how difficult the game will be made for them.

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