Game Information

Saturday 29th March – Kick-off – 21:30 (GMT)

Juventude

Juventude had a solid season last year in their return to the top tier, finishing 15th and securing another campaign among Brazil’s elite. It was a significant improvement from their disastrous 2022 top-flight spell, where they finished bottom of the league with just 22 points.

Juve will be hoping to bounce back after a difficult run of matches. They first suffered a shock loss to Maringá in the Copa do Brasil, before crashing out of the Campeonato Gaúcho with a penalty shootout defeat to Grêmio. With no continental distractions, Juve’s sole focus will be on the Brasileirão, which could prove beneficial later in the season.

Maurício Garcez, Kawan, Daniel Giraldo, Wilker Ángel, Giovanny, Cipriano, Petterson, Adriano Martins, Emerson Batalla, Gustavo, Vitor Pernambuco, Marcos Paulo, Enio, Reginaldo, and Marcão are all new reinforcements brought into the Rio Grande do Sul club.

Vitória

Vitória achieved their best league finish in Brazil’s top flight since 2008 last year, securing Copa Sudamericana football with an 11th-place finish. They will be eager for more of the same this season as they balance continental and league football.

At the weekend they suffered heartbreak in the Campeonato Baiano in a 3-1 aggregate loss to rivals Bahia in the final. In midweek, they took on Moto Club in the Copa do Nordeste and drew 1-1 which saw them secure a first-place finish in Group A.

Thiago Carpini remains in charge of the club and has brought in Pepe, Lucas Halter, Lucas Braga, Carlinhos, Baralhas, Gabriel, Fabrício, Hugo, Wellington, Wellington Rato, Thiaguinho, Claudinho, Ronald Lopes, Zé Marcos, and Bruno Xavier. These additions provide the team with excellent squad depth to cope with the extra demands of Sudamericana football.

Expected Lineups

Juventude – Gustavo, Ewerthon, Abner, Adriano Martins, Alan Ruschel, Giraldo, Jadson, Jean Carlos, Ênio, Batalla and Gabriel Taliari.

Vitória – Lucas Arcanjo, Raúl Cáceres, Neris, Lucas Halter, Jamerson, Baralhas, Ricardo Ryller, Ronald, Wellington Rato, Janderson, Mosquito

Prediction

Juventude 1-1 Vitória