Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

Bragantinovs.Sousa

sportsmole.co.uk, 19 May 2024, 21:37
Sousa can cause perhaps the biggest shock in the history of the Copa do Brasil should they emerge victorious from the second leg of their third-round tie against Bragantino at Estadio Nabi Abi Chedid on Tuesday.

This tie is all square after the fourth-tier side from Paraiba found a late equaliser at the beginning of this month to earn a 1-1 draw.

Match preview

The Red Bull club are on the verge of suffering another humiliating early exit from the Copa do Brasil, after being knocked out by third-tier side Ypiranga in the second round a season ago.

Thankfully for Pedro Caixinha's men, however, this decisive fixture takes place at home, where they are undefeated since February in all competitions.

A victory on Tuesday would mark the first time this side will have advanced beyond the third round of this tournament since 2020 when Palmeiras eliminated them in the last 16.

This side have failed to triumph in two of their previous three matches in all competitions when scoring the opening goal but were able to do so the last time out versus Racing Club at the Copa Sudamericana (2-1).

RB Bragantino are undefeated in their last 11 matches in all competitions when they have been even or ahead against their opponents at the interval.

They have not won a second-leg fixture in this competition since June 2021, when they triumphed 2-1 over Fluminense in the third round but were eliminated 3-2 on aggregate.

Against all odds, Sousa avoided defeat in the opening leg of this tie, extending their unbeaten run at this tournament to three matches.

Down by a goal after 34 minutes and a man short following a 40th-minute expulsion, Paulo Schardong saw a determined group continue to push in the second half, finding an equaliser seven minutes before the 90.

Their opening fixture in this tie was the first time they had conceded a goal in the 2024 Copa do Brasil and the first time they had claimed a result all year despite allowing the first goal of the game.

If they win on Tuesday, they will make it to the last 16 of this tournament for the first time, while it will also be their first-ever victory over a top-flight Brazilian side at the Copa do Brasil.

Dinossauro Verde do Sertao have lost their last two competitive away fixtures, both of which were in Serie D action, losing 2-0 to Treze and Santa Cruz de Natal, respectively.

Sousa have not lost consecutive matches all year, while they have not been beaten on successive occasions since June 2023.

Bragantino Copa do Brasil form:

Bragantino form (all competitions):

W

D

D

W

L

W

Sousa Copa do Brasil form:

Sousa form (all competitions):

Team News

Nathan Camargo is dealing with a sore knee, Andres Hurtado has an ankle issue, Raul is recovering from an ankle sprain and Eduardo Sasha continues to deal with a thigh injury, while none of them are expected to feature for Bragantino on Tuesday.

A 34th-minute penalty converted by Luan Candido was all Braga could manage offensively in the opening match of this tie, leaving it all to play for in the second leg.

A straight red card issued to Jackson in the 40th minute of the opening leg means that the 30-year-old must sit out of this decisive fixture for Sousa.

Batata came on for Diego Ceara in the 60th minute of the first leg and became the hero when he netted the equaliser in the latter stages.

Bragantino possible starting lineup:

Cleiton; Mendes, Henrique, Santos, Candido; Gustavinho, Evangelista, Capixaba; Helinho, Borbas, Bruninho

Sousa possible starting lineup:

Fuso; Iranilson, Cezar, Marcelo, Leozinho; Bala, Hebert, Arua; Charles, Ceara, Potiguar

We say: Bragantino 3-0 Sousa (Bragantino advances 3-0 on aggregate)

Expect to see Sousa hang back and try to frustrate Braga throughout this encounter, but we do not believe that will be enough to see them upset the home side, who seem to be a lot more decisive in the attacking third at Estadio Nabi Abi Chedid.

Previews by email

Top News

16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has revealed the club spoke to Thomas Tuchel about the manager's position. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk England midfielder Jude Bellingham eclipsed Cristiano Ronaldo and Michael Owen in Sunday's 1-0 victory over Serbia at Euro 2024. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have reportedly been named as the Premier League club that had a bid rejected for Lille defender Leny Yoro. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Jude Bellingham and Marc Guehi were the standout players for England, as the Three Lions opened their Euro 2024 campaign with a 1-0 success over Serbia on Sunday night. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk England made the perfect start to their Euro 2024 campaign on Sunday evening, recording a 1-0 victory over Serbia courtesy of a first-half header from Jude Bellingham. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham scored the only goal of the match as England recorded a 1-0 victory over Serbia in their opening fixture of Euro 2024 on Sunday night. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea are reportedly prepared to offer two players in a bid to sign Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea defender Levi Colwill is reportedly prepared to consider a potential move to Bayern Munich. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City are reportedly prepared to offer Pep Guardiola a pay rise to extend his contract beyond the end of next season. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Denmark began their Euro 2024 campaign with a frustrating result as Erik Janza netted a 77th-minute equaliser to rescue a point for Slovenia in Stuttgart. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Belgium will be heading into Monday's Euro 2024 fixture against Slovakia having put together a 17-match streak. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Cristiano Ronaldo has said that the current Portugal "generation" deserve to win a European Championship. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Raphael Varane and Casemiro were allegedly two Manchester United players to question the approach of head coach Erik ten Hag over the last two seasons at Old Trafford. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho is reportedly interested in a reunion with Manchester United defender Victor Lindelof. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Valencia have allegedly launched a £25m offer for Mason Greenwood, with the Manchester United forward keen to make a permanent move to Spain during this summer's transfer window. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Jack Grealish is reportedly open to discussing a move away from Manchester City during this summer's transfer window after struggling for form during the 2023-24 campaign. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly set to loan one of their teenage starlets out to Belgium for the 2024-25 season. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Wout Weghorst scores a late decisive goal for Netherlands at a major tournament yet again as Oranje record a 2-1 win over Poland at Euro 2024. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Czech Republic suffered a huge blow ahead of Euro 2024 when key midfielder Michal Sadilek was forced to withdraw from the squad due to an injury which he suffered while riding a bike. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Cristiano Ronaldo is set to lead the Portugal line in the country's Euro 2024 opener against Czech Republic, with the forward remaining a vital player for his country at the age of 39. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk One of the favourites for this summer's European Championship will take to the field on Tuesday evening, with Portugal opening their Euro 2024 campaign against the Czech Republic at Leipzig Stadium. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City are reportedly pushing to hijack Real Madrid's proposed move for River Plate starlet Franco Mastantuono. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have reportedly received a significant boost in their pursuit of Crystal Palace's Michael Olise, as the Eagles have begun negotiations to sign a possible successor. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk French giants Lille have reportedly rejected an offer from an unnamed Premier League club for the services of 18-year-old defender Leny Yoro. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Napoli star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia will headline the Georgia side in the country's first-ever match in the finals of a major tournament on Tuesday evening. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Turkey head coach Vincenzo Montella is expected to name Juventus' 19-year-old attacker Kenan Yildiz in his starting XI for Tuesday's Euro 2024 opener against Georgia. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Group F at Euro 2024 will get underway on Tuesday evening in Dortmund, with Turkey and Georgia locking horns for what is likely to be a very important match in the section. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk AC Milan are reportedly considering a move for Chelsea striker Armando Broja during this summer's transfer window. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk England captain Harry Kane believes that the Three Lions' squad for Euro 2024 may be the "best" that his nation have ever had. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Juventus have reportedly moved into pole position to sign Manchester United attacker Jadon Sancho, with the Old Lady cooling their interest in his teammate Mason Greenwood.