In the fight for the top spots in the Brazilian Championship, Athletico-PR faces Red Bull Bragantino, who are seeking rehabilitation after three games without winning. The match, valid for the 23rd round of the Brazilian Championship, will be held this Saturday, at 6:30 pm, at Arena da Baixada, in Curitiba (PR).
Best home team, Athletico-PR welcomes Red Bull Bragantino to maintain momentum in the Brasileirão
In the fight for the top spots in the Brazilian Championship, Athletico-PR faces Red Bull Bragantino, who are seeking rehabilitation after three games without winning. The match, valid for the 23rd round of the Brazilian Championship, will...
Athletico was undeterred after being eliminated in the Copa do Brasil by Vitória. In the next match, they beat Santos 2-0 away from home.
- The result extended the undefeated streak in the competition to seven games, with five wins and two draws.
- With 40 points, they are in third place, behind only Palmeiras (48) and Flamengo (42).
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Athletico was undeterred after being eliminated in the Copa do Brasil by Vitória. In the next match, they beat Santos 2-0 away from home. The result extended the undefeated streak in the competition to seven games, with five wins and two draws. With 40 points, they are in third place, behind only Palmeiras (48) and Flamengo (42).
Another interesting fact is the performance at home. There are eight wins, two draws and only one defeat, against Corinthians, 1-0, on February 19th. With 78.7% success rate, they have the best campaign as home team.
Coach Odair Hellmann must maintain the team's base. The only change will be in goal, with the return of the experienced Santos, after serving suspension, in place of Mycael. The defense is still missing left-backs Esquivel and Claudinho, as well as defender Terán, all of whom are injured. Midfielder Portilla, on the other hand, returned to training and could be related.
Hellmann praised the group's quick response after the elimination. "At these moments in life it's easier to jump ship or hide, but here that won't happen. It's not the story of Athletico or this group."
Red Bull Bragantino is not going through a good moment this season, coming off two consecutive defeats. In the Brasileirão, they lost to Corinthians 2-0, and in the middle of the week they were beaten in the round of 16 of the South American Championship by Atlético-MG 1-0, both at home.
With 31 points, they fell to eighth place and have gone three games without winning, as they had two draws before the defeat to Corinthians. In the last two away games, however, they won important points, beating Vasco 3-0 and drawing with Fluminense 1-1. Furthermore, they have one game in hand, against Atlético-MG, in the 21st round.
The São Paulo team wants to win again in the Brasileirão, but they cannot forget the second game against Atlético-MG next Wednesday, in Minas Gerais. The situation could make coach Vagner Mancini spare some players. What is certain is that right-back Agustin Sant\'Anna and midfielder Fabinho return after suspension.
In midweek, defender Gustavo Marques and attacking midfielder Bruninho were again available. Gustavo Marques, in fact, was a starter in the South American Championship. Striker Herrera also trained after attending the birth of his son. Davi Gomes, Vanderlan, Cauê and Fernando remain in the medical department.
Mancini admitted low offensive production and wants to change that. "We're upset about that. We were on a very good run, scoring goals. Suddenly, after the World Cup, there are six games and just two goals. It's very little."
TECHNICAL SHEET
ATHLETICO-PR
ATHLETICO-PR - Santos; Benavídez, Aguirre, Arthur Dias and Gilberto; Jadson, Luiz Gustavo and João Cruz; Mendoza, Viveros and Leozinho. Coach: Odair Hellmann.
RED BULL BRAGANTINO - Cleiton; Sant\'Anna, Alix Vinícius, Pedro Henrique and Juninho Capixaba; Eric Ramires, Rodriguinho and Lucas Barbosa; Henry Mosquera, Pitta and Eduardo Sasha. Coach: Vagner Mancini.
REFEREE - Alex Gomes Stefano (RJ)
TIME - 6:30 pm.
LOCATION - Arena da Baixada, in Curitiba (PR).
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