Palmeiras and Bragantino are set to clash in the Brazilian top flight on Thursday evening, with just two points separating the teams in the table. The home side sits fifth, within touching distance of the leaders, while the visitors are back in seventh position after an inconsistent run of form.
Palmeiras, having won two league titles in a row, would have expected a smoother start to the campaign. However, it took three successive victories for Abel Ferreira’s side to stay close to the top of the congested table. They have scored eight goals and conceded just once in wins against Criciuma, Vasco da Gama, and Atletico Mineiro. With only one goal conceded in five fixtures across all competitions, Palmeiras has suffered just two defeats in their last 18 outings.
Despite rumors of high-profile transfers behind the scenes, Ferreira trusts his team to remain focused on narrowing the gap to leaders Botafogo to no more than two points.
On the other hand, Bragantino started well, going unbeaten in their first five league games and collecting nine points. However, they have stumbled recently, with two defeats in their last four matches against Bahia and Atletico Mineiro. Pedro Caixinha’s side managed a hard-fought 2-1 win over Juventude in their last outing, despite playing with 10 men for most of the match.
While Bragantino has not scored more than twice in a league game this season, their solid defense, having conceded only nine goals in as many games, sets a strong foundation for a successful campaign.
Palmeiras’ recent form in the Brasileiro includes two wins, a draw, and two losses, while in all competitions, they have secured two wins, two draws, and two losses. Bragantino, on the other hand, has recorded a win, two draws, and two losses in their last five Brasileiro matches, with a win, a draw, and three losses in all competitions.
Despite reports of a potential transfer for 17-year-old Willian Estevao to Chelsea in 2025, the youngster started in the match against Atletico Mineiro. Both teams are expected to field competitive lineups in what promises to be an exciting encounter.
