Top-four chasers Bragantino and Sao Paulo are separated by two points in the Brasileiro table as they prepare to lock horns at Estadio Nabi Abi Chedid.
The hosts enter Sunday's showdown on a five-game winning streak across all competitions, while the visitors head to Nabizao on the back of three straight victories.
Match preview
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Bragantino claimed a 1-0 win over struggling Corinthians last time out, with Eduardo Sasha scoring the winning goal after 17 minutes, meaning that Massa Bruta occupy fifth place in the Serie A standings.
That victory extended Bragantino's winning run to five matches, with a 4-0 league victory over Flamengo, a 7-1 Copa Sudamericana thrashing of Tacuary and a 5-2 Copa Paulista win against Juventus highlighting the team's impressive form.
Not only have Pedro Caixinha's men won each of their last five games, but they have also avoided defeat in each of their previous seven, with a solitary defeat coming in their last 15 encounters across all competitions.
When you look at the bigger picture, Bragantino have lost just two of their previous 20 matches, and they have also suffered only two defeats in 13 Brasileiro clashes this year, picking up six wins and five draws along the way.
Having lost one of their seven home league games this season – winning each of their previous four without conceding a goal – Massa Bruta will back themselves to notch another positive result at Estadio Nabi Abi Chedid this weekend.
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Meanwhile, Sao Paulo clinched a first-leg lead in their Copa do Brasil quarter-final clash with Palmeiras in midweek, courtesy of an 82nd-minute winner from Rafinha.
As a result, Soberano carry a three-game winning streak to Nabizao, with a Copa Sudamericana victory over Tigre and a league win against Fluminense preceding the midweek Copa do Brasil triumph over Palmeiras.
It is also worth noting that Dorival Junior's men have won five of their last seven matches across all competitions, although they have lost three of their previous five league outings, falling to Gremio, Palmeiras and Cruzeiro while scoring a solitary goal.
To make matters worse for the Morumbi outfit, they have failed to register a single away victory in the league this year, recording three draws and three losses along the way.
Even so, Sao Paulo find themselves seventh in the standings – two points shy of Bragantino – meaning that Junior's men will leapfrog Massa Bruta if they manage to pick up their first away league victory of the season this weekend.
Team News
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Bragantino's lengthy injury list contains Leo Ortiz, Raul, Luan Candido, Ignacio Laquintana, Lucas Cunha and Helinho, giving Pedro Caixinha plenty to think about when it comes to his team selection.
Only two players have registered more goal involvements than Eduardo Sasha in the Brasileiro this season, so the 31-year-old will continue alongside Uruguayan forward Thiago Borbas in attack.
Caixinha will likely deploy a midfield diamond, with Lucas Evangelista offering attacking support to the strikers and Matheus Fernandes operating at the base of the diamond.
Sao Paulo also have multiple injury absentees, with Alexandre Pato, Lucas Beraldo, Jonathan Calleri, Michel Araujo, Jandrei, Erison, Giuliano Galoppo, Talles Costa, Igor Vinicius and Jaoa Moreira all set to miss Saturday's clash.
Jonathan Calleri is expected to lead the line in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Wellington Rato, Luciano and Rodrigo Nestor lining up behind the lone striker.
Bragantino possible starting lineup:
Schwengber; Aderlan, Patrick, Santos, Capixaba; Fernandes; Jadsom, Ramires; Evangelista; Borbas, Sasha
Sao Paulo possible starting lineup:
Rafael; Rafinha, Arboleda, Franco, Paulista; Maia, Neves; Rato, Luciano, Nestor; Calleri
We say: Bragantino 2-0 Sao Paulo
When you couple Bragantino's strong home form with Sao Paulo's poor away record this season, all the signs point towards another victory for Massa Bruta at Estadio Nabi Abi Chedid.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
