Estudiantes can lock up first place in Group C of the 2022 Copa Libertadores with a single point on Tuesday as they travel to Estadio Nabi Abi Chedid for a date with Bragantino.
Massa Bruta are clinging to second in the group, a point above Nacional for a place in the last 16, while the four-time winners of this event are unbeaten so far with three wins and a draw.
Match preview
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As they prepare for their final two group games, win and you are into the knockout phase is the simple breakdown that Braga find themselves in.
Under the guidance of Mauricio Barbieri, this Red Bull squad are undefeated in their two home fixtures at the tournament, rescuing a point in their previous encounter with an equaliser in the 84th minute to draw Velez Sarsfield 1-1.
They are among the youngest sides in Brazil, entering the 2022 domestic campaign with an average age of 22.4, and that speed and raw talent has been a handful at this year's Copa Libertadores.
Their direct football and intense high press has enabled them to create numerous scoring opportunities, and their pressure has been relentless, with three of their five goals coming in the second half.
In 2021, they led the Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A in terms of long passes per 90 minutes at 43.83, and so far this year, we are seeing them play with a lot more build-up from the back, though still utilizing their speed out wide.
This young team gained a lot of valuable experience in international competitions a season ago, making it to the final of the Copa Sudamericana, and the new additions they acquired during the transfer window have allowed Barbieri to play with more balance and structure than we saw in 2021.
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A club once accused of playing anti-football in the 1960s, Estudiantes have been a difficult side to break down in this competition, allowing just a single goal after four matches.
The aggressive and robust play employed by Ricardo Zielinski may not be the most appealing to watch as a fan, but you cannot argue with their results in this competition, as they have advanced beyond the group phase in four of their previous five appearances.
A 90-minute affair against El Leon can be painful and exhausting as they do not let up and never hesitate to throw in a challenge, committing 49 fouls in their four Libertadores games this year.
Once known as the Professors in the 1930s, this team do not mind hanging back while absorbing a lot of pressure, with fewer than 40% possession in three of their four group games, yet still posting three clean sheets.
Estudiantes have not won a match away from home since the middle of April, when they trounced Barracas Central 6-1 in the first phase of the Argentine Primera Division season.
Los Pincharratas have not lost a group stage match at this tournament when scoring first since 2006, when they gave up three unanswered goals to Independiente Santa Fe of Colombia in a 3-1 defeat.
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Team News
Ytalo leads Bragantino with three goals in the competition, while Jose Hurtado scored the equaliser in their previous Libertadores encounter with Artur collecting an assist.
Cleiton is tied for second in clean sheets domestically this season with two and did not have to make a save in his only shutout at this tournament, which was a 2-0 triumph over Nacional.
Claudio Maldonado, who temporarily took over for Barbieri when the 40-year-old tested positive for COVID, made three changes for their match against Velez Sarsfield, bringing in Aderlan, Ramon and Lucas Evangelista to replace Luan Candido, Hurtado and Jadsom Silva, who all started in their 2-0 defeat at Estudiantes in April.
Agustin Rogel leads El Leon in goals with four at this tournament, goalkeeper Mariano Andujar has three clean sheets, while Manuel Castro notched the winner to officially clinch their place in the next round when they defeated Nacional 1-0.
Ezequiel Munoz remains out with a cruciate ligament rupture, while Jorge Morel and Fernando Zuqui missed their spot-kicks last Wednesday when they lost 4-3 on penalties to Argentinos Juniors even though Mauro Boselli had put them in front after 32 minutes.
Gustavo Del Prete and Manuel Castro set up the two goals from Rogel and Boselli the last time they faced Braga in late April, while Franco Zapiola and Emmanuel Mas each found the back of the net in their 4-1 win over Velez Sarsfield.
Bragantino possible starting lineup:
Cleiton; Aderlan, Ortiz, Renan, Ramon; Evangelista, Silva; Helinho, Tubarao, Sorriso; Ytalo
Estudiantes possible starting lineup:
Andujar; Godoy, Rogel, Noguera, Mas; Rodriguez; Morel, Del Prete; Zuqui; Boselli, Diaz
We say: Bragantino 0-1 Estudiantes
Bragantino have a lot more flair and attacking intent when compared to their Argentine opponents, however, Estudiantes know how to keep their composure and remain patient, which should serve them well in this encounter.
For additional data used by our team to analyse our suggested result please click here.
Top tip
Joel Lefevre
