Preview: Ceara vs. Bragantino - prediction, team news, lineups

Ceara will welcome Bragantino to Castelao on Sunday, and the hosts enter the fixture in 14th place in the Campeonato Brasileiro table.

Bragantino have enjoyed a successful season and find themselves in fourth place, and they will look to retain their position in the top four to ensure they qualify for next season's Copa Libertadores.

Match preview

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After 14 games, Ceara were in seventh position in the table with 22 points to their name, but one win in their last 10 matches has seen them fall down the league standings.

Ceara currently have 30 points and they are only a point outside a Copa Sudamericana place, but they are also at risk of relegation with only three points separating themselves and the drop zone.

Encouragingly, they have only lost one of their last five games, but they have struggled to convert draws into victories, with three of their last five matches ending all square.

Last weekend they travelled to league leaders Athletico Mineiro and suffered a 3-1 defeat, with Gabriel Lacerda grabbing a consolation goal in stoppage time for Ceara.

Then in midweek Tiago Nunes's side faced Sao Paulo and a goal from Fabinho gave Ceara the lead at half time, but Jonathan Calleri scored for Sao Paulo to ensure the spoils were shared.

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Bragantino have experienced a positive campaign, and they enter the weekend in fourth position having accumulated 41 points so far this term.

They will also be boosted by their recent form, which sees them enter Sunday's fixture on a five-game unbeaten run in all competitions.

Additionally, Bragantino have not just experienced success domestically as they have booked a place in the Copa Sudamericana final, where they will face Athletico Paranaense in November.

In the league, Mauricio Barbieri's side are unbeaten in their last four games, which includes a victory over Palmeiras last weekend where a brace from Artur and a goal apiece for Ytalo and Tomas Cuello guided Bragantino to a 4-2 win.

Barbieri and his players followed that victory with another win during the week, with Jadsom Silva scoring in the second half to clinch a 1-0 victory over Atletico Goianiense.

Team News

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Ceara will be without Gabriel Dias and Wendson, who are absent due to injury.

Buiu and Vitor Jacare are out for an extended period and, as a result, they will both miss the game.

Nunes introduced Luis Otavio at half time against Sao Paulo and the centre-back may start the game on Sunday.

Bragantino will be without Eric Ramires, who was sent off in the previous fixture against Atletico Goianiense.

As a result of that red card, Ramires will be suspended, which means that Emiliano Martinez is likely to take his place in the midfield.

Leo Ortiz is also suspended due to yellow card accumulation and that will result in Natan coming into the centre of defence.

Ceara possible starting lineup:

Richard; Igor, Otavio, Gabriel, Pacheco; Marlon, Fabinho, Vinicius; Kelvyn, Lima, Cleber

Bragantino possible starting lineup:

Cleiton; Aderlan, Bruno, Natan, Candido; Jadsom, Martinez, Helinho; Novaes, Cuello, Ytalo

We say: Ceara 1-2 Bragantino

Ceara will want to make the most of home advantage, but Bragantino will be confident heading into the game, having not lost to Sunday's opponents in their last three meetings, and we think the visitors will continue that trend by collecting a narrow victory on Sunday.