Flamengo Tries to Take the Lead Against São Paulo: Info and Predictions by PVC

There are other highlights on Wednesday night, such as Atlético vs. Bahia, Grêmio vs. Cruzeiro, and Corinthians fighting for a Libertadores spot. SPORT x JUVENTUDE – Wednesday, Ilha do Retiro, 7 pm ANALYSIS – The 22nd coaching change in Brasileirão occurred with the departure of Daniel Paulista and the appointment of an interim coach, César Lucena. Interestingly, this change may boost Sport as they face the vice-lantern Juventude. SPORT – Issues – Thyere (injured), Hereda (injured), Luan Cândido (injured) – Likely lineup (4-2-3-1) – Gabriel, Aderlan, Lucas Kal, Ramon Menezes, Igor Cariús; Rivera, Sérgio Oliveira; Léo Pereira, Lucas Lima, Romarinho; Derik Lacerda. Coach: César Lucena. Last five games – d-d-d-d-d JUVENTUDE – Issues – Mandaca (injured), Galego (injured) – Likely lineup (4-1-4-1) – Jandrei, Igor Formiga, Rodrigo Sam, Luan Freitas, Alan Ruschel; Caíque; Rafael Bilu, Daniel Peixoto, Gabriel Taliari, Gabriel Veron; Nenê. Coach: Thiago Carpini. Last five games – d-d-w-d-d CURIOUS FACT – A match between the last and second-to-last placed teams in Brasileirão. In the first round, Sport was at the bottom and Juventude was in 17th place. Juventude won 2-0. RECORD – In the history of Brasileirão in Recife, four wins for Sport, one draw, and one win for Juventude in 1999. PREDICTION – Sport REFEREEING – André Luiz Bento (MG); Guilherme Dias Camilo (MG), Henrique Neu Ribeiro (SC) VIDEO REFEREE – Pablo Ramon Pinheiro (RN) VITÓRIA x INTERNACIONAL – Wednesday, Barradão, 7 pm ANALYSIS – Frustration is evident in Internacional players and directors. Vitória, at least, is motivated to get out of trouble. VITÓRIA – Issues – Zé Marcos (third yellow card), Lucas Arcanjo (injured), Baralhas (injured), Fabri (injured), Claudinho (injured), Jamerson (injured), Ismael (injured) – Likely lineup (3-4-2-1) – Thiago Couto, Lucas Halter, Neris, Camutanga; Raúl Cáceres, Ronald Lopes, William Oliveira, Ramon; Erick, Aitor Cantalapiedra, Renato Kayzer. Coach: Jair Ventura. Last five games – d-d-w-w-d INTERNACIONAL – Issues – Santos Borré (third yellow card), Mercado (third yellow card), Aguirre (injured), Rochet (injured), Alan Rodriguez (injured) – Likely lineup (3-4-1-2) – Ivan, Vitão, Juninho, Victor Gabriel; Bruno Bomes, Thiago Maia, Bruno Tabata, Bernabei; Alan Patrick; Vitinho, Carbonero. Coach: Ramón Díaz. Last five games – d-w-l-d-w CURIOUS FACT – The first game in Salvador in the Brasileirão happened in 1975. Internacional defeated Bragantino 5-0, goals by Paulo César Carpegiani, Altivo, Flávio, and Lula (twice). RECORD – In 19 matches at Barradão in the Brasileirão, 10 victories for Vitória, two draws, and two wins for Internacional. PREDICTION – Vitória REFEREEING – Felipe Fernandes de Lima (MG); Felipe Alan Costa de Oliveira (MG), Celso Luiz da Silva (MG) VIDEO REFEREE – Rodrigo Nunes de Sá (RJ) BRAGANTINO x CORINTHIANS – Wednesday, Cícero de Souza Marques, 7 pm ANALYSIS – Corinthians found their form with a solid defense and the return of key players. Bragantino, on the other hand, faces difficulties due to several absences. BRAGANTINO – Issues – Matheus Fernandes (third yellow card, injured), Guzmán Rodriguez (injured), Vinicinho (injured), Eduardo Santos (injured), Eric Ramires (injured) – Likely lineup (4-2-3-1) – Cleiton, Andrés Hurtado, Pedro Henrique, Alix Vinicius, Vanderlan; Gabriel, Juninho Capixaba; Lucas Barbosa, Jhon Jhon, Henry Mosquera, Sasha. Coach: Vágner Mancini. Last five games – d-d-d-d-w CORINTHIANS – Issues – Vitinho (injured) – Likely lineup (3-4-2-1) – Hugo Souza, Tchoca, Gustavo Henrique, Angileri; Matheusinho, Carrillo, Raniele, Matheus Bidu; Garro; Yuri Alberto, Memphis Depay. Coach: Dorival Júnior. Last five games – w-w-w-d-w CURIOUS FACT – Vágner Mancini played for Bragantino against Corinthians in 1992, in a 1-1 draw at Pacaembu with 40,000 spectators. RECORD – In the last two years, Corinthians lost to Bragantino twice at Itaquera and won twice in Bragança Paulista. PREDICTION – Corinthians REFEREEING – Edina Alves Batista (SP); Fabrini Bevilaqua (SP), Miguel Cataneo Ribeiro da Costa (SP) VIDEO REFEREE – Rodrigo Guarizo do Amaral (SP) BOTAFOGO x VASCO – Wednesday, Nílton Santos, 7:30 pm ANALYSIS – Botafogo has struggled at home and was even knocked out by Vasco in the Copa do Brasil. They cannot afford to lose more points and risk missing out on Libertadores. Vasco, despite a recent loss to São Paulo, is growing in the competition. BOTAFOGO – Issues – Savarino (injured), Matheus Martins (injured), Joaquín Correa (injured), Montoro (injured), Marçal (injured), Kaio Pantaleão (injured), Nathan Fernandes (injured), Neto (injured), Bastos (injured) – Likely lineup (4-1-4-1) – Léo Linck, Vitinho, Alexander Barboza, David Ricardo, Alex Telles; Marlon Freitas; Artur, Newton, Danilo, Santi Rodriguez; Chris Ramos. Coach: Davide Ancelotti. Last five games – d-d-w-l-l VASCO – Issues – Paulo Henrique (third yellow card), Nuno Moreira (third yellow card), Garré (injured), Ádson (injured), Jair (injured) – Likely lineup (4-2-3-1) – Léo Jardim, Puma Rodriguez, Cuesta, Robert Renan, Piton; Hugo Moura, Tchê Tchê; Rayan, Phillippe Coutinho, Andrez Gomez; Vegetti. Coach: Fernando Diniz. Last five games – d-w-w-w-w CURIOUS FACT – With Davide Ancelotti as coach, Botafogo has only won one derby, against Vasco in their first encounter. They have won five, drew six, and lost three at Nílton Santos under his command. PREDICTION – Draw REFEREEING – Bruno Arleu de Araújo (RJ); Rodrigo Henrique Corrêa (RJ), Thiago Farinha (RJ) VIDEO REFEREE – Diego Pombo Lopez (BA) GRÊMIO x CRUZEIRO – Wednesday, Arena do Grêmio, 8 pm ANALYSIS – Kannemann returns to the defense as Grêmio needs a win to stay in the race for a Pre-Libertadores spot. Cruzeiro, on the other hand, is still trying to catch up to the leaders and hope for Flamengo and Palmeiras to stumble. GRÊMIO – Issues – Braithwaite (injured), Villasanti (injured), Alex Santana (injured), Monsalve (injured), Marcos Rocha (injured), João Pedro (injured), Balbuena (injured), Willian (injured), Rodrigo Ely (injured) – Likely lineup (4-2-3-1) – Tiago Volpi, João Lucas, Noriega, Kannemann, Marlon; Dodi, Arthur; Alysson, Edenílson, Amuzu; Carlos Vinicius. Coach: Mano Menezes. Last five games – d-w-d-w-d CRUZEIRO – Issues – Wânderson (injured), Marquinhos (injured), Bolasie (injured), Matheus Henrique (injured), Fágner (injured) – Likely lineup (4-4-2) – Cássio, William, Fabrício Bruno, Villalba, Kaiki; Christian, Lucas Romero, Lucas Silva, Arroyo; Matheus Pereira, Kaio Jorge. Coach: Leonardo Jardim. Last five games – w-d-w-d-d CURIOUS FACT – Mano Menezes is the last coach to win a title with Cruzeiro, the Mineiro in 2019. RECORD – Cruzeiro hasn’t won at Arena do Grêmio since 2017, a 1-0 victory with Rafael Sóbis scoring the only goal. Overall, in the Brasileirão, five Grêmio wins, one draw, and two Cruzeiro wins. PREDICTION – Draw REFEREEING – Lucas Paulo Torezin (PR); Victor Hugo Imazu dos Santos (SP), Brígida Ferreira (PR) VIDEO REFEREE – Caio Augusto Max Vieira (GO) ATLÉTICO MINEIRO x BAHIA – Wednesday, Mineirão, 8 pm ANALYSIS – Atlético Mineiro relies on their position in the table and gears up for the Copa Sul-Americana final, while Bahia needs to secure points for a direct Libertadores spot. ATLÉTICO MINEIRO – Issues – Vítor Hugo (suspended), Lyanco (injured), Júnior Santos (injured), Cuello (injured) – Likely lineup (3-4-2-1) – Éverton, Ruan Tressoldi, Junior Alonso, Iván Román; Scarpa, Alan Franco, Igor Gomes, Arana; Rony, Dudu, Hulk. Coach: Jorge Sampaoli. Last five games – d-w-d-l-d BAHIA – Issues – Ramos Mingo (third yellow card), Gilberto (injured), Caio Alexandre (injured), Sanabria (injured) – Likely lineup (4-1-4-1) – Ronaldo, Santiago Arias, David Duarte, Kanu, Luciano Juba; Acevedo; Ademir, Rodrigo Nestor, Jean Lucas, Erick Pulga; William José. Coach: Rogério Ceni. Last five games – w-l-w-l-w CURIOUS FACT – Atlético celebrated the 2021 Brazilian title with a 3-2 win over Bahia. RECORD – Atlético hasn’t beaten Bahia since 2023, with three Bahia wins and one draw in that period. PREDICTION – Draw REFEREEING – Davi de Oliveira Lacerda (ES); Bruno Boschillia (PR), Douglas Pagung (ES) VIDEO REFEREE – Rafael Traci (SC) SÃO PAULO x FLAMENGO – Wednesday, Vila Belmiro, 9:30 pm ANALYSIS – São Paulo loses key players and even their home stadium, but need to earn points against Flamengo, who have not lost as visitors since 2022. It’s a tough task for São Paulo, with Flamengo being the favorites. SÃO PAULO – Issues – Enzo Díaz (third yellow card), Alan Franco (third yellow card), André Silva (injured), Cédric (injured), Wendell (injured), Ryan Francisco (injured), Juan Dinenno (injured), Luan (injured), Oscar (injured), Calleri (injured), Rafael Toloi (injured) – Likely lineup (3-5-2) – Rafael, Ferraresi, Arboleda, Sabino; Maílton, Bobadilla, Marcos Antônio, Pablo Maia, Patryck Lanza; Lucas, Luciano. Coach: N/A. Last five games – w-w-l-l-l FLAMENGO – Issues – Évertton Araújo (suspended), Bruno Henrique (third yellow card), Pedro (injured), Léo Ortiz (injured), Éverton Cebolinha (injured), Jorginho (injured), Carrascal (injured) – Likely lineup (4-2-3-1) – Rossi, Varela, Danilo, Léo Pereira, Alex Sandro; Saúl, De la Cruz; Luiz Araújo, De Arrascaeta, Samuel Lino; Plata. Coach: Filipe Luís. Last five games – w-d-l-w-w CURIOUS FACT – São Paulo has only played one Brasileirão game at Vila Belmiro against a team that’s not Santos. They won 2-0 against Bragantino in 2023. RECORD – Flamengo hasn’t won against São Paulo in São Paulo since 2022. Two São Paulo wins and two draws, all at MorumBis. Now, at Vila Belmiro. PREDICTION – Draw REFEREEING – Rodrigo José Pereira de Lima (PE); Rafael da Silva Alves (RS), Francisco Chaves Bezerra Júnior (PE) VIDEO REFEREE – Rodrigo D’Alonso Ferreira (SC)