It’s been 14 seasons since Juventude last appeared in the Brazilian top flight but although they gave a good account of themselves on the opening day of this new Serie A season with a point away at Cuaiba in a 2-2 draw.
The hosts will likely face a tough fixture against Athletico PR on Sunday evening.
Alfredo Jaconi está pronto para receber a Série A: https://t.co/GiOFLoFvJU 📸Fernando Alves/ECJuventude#BrasilOlhaOJuventudeTchê pic.twitter.com/LfssZtxcpK— E.C. Juventude (@ECJuventude) June 3, 2021
Alfredo Jaconi está pronto para receber a Série A: https://t.co/GiOFLoFvJU 📸Fernando Alves/ECJuventude#BrasilOlhaOJuventudeTchê pic.twitter.com/LfssZtxcpK
Juventude return to the more familiar surroundings of their Estádio Alfredo Jaconi for this opening home game of the season where the hosts will be keen to make a good start to their campaign.
Despite being relegated, Juventude finished their previous Serie A campaign in fairly solid form on home soil, losing just once in their final 10 home games of that season, but a lot of water has passed under the bridge since then and this upcoming clash against Athletico PR looks to be a totally different prospect for the hosts.
Juventude have generally come off second-best in previous exchanges against Athletico PR, winning just one of their last five encounters which came in the shape of a 3-2 win at home back in 2006.
Athletico PR began their new Serie A campaign with a 1-0 home win over America Mineiro as Athletico picked up where they left off at the end of last season as they registered a final day 2-0 home win over Sport Recife in the Brazilian top flight.
Results overall have been pretty solid for Athletico PR as the visitors have suffered just the two defeats out of their last 14 matches, picking up eight wins in the process.
This consistent sequence of results in recent times will give Athletico PR plenty of confidence ahead of Sunday’s clash at Juventude.
Form and results away from home have also been pretty steady as Athletico PR have lost just two of their last seven matches on their travels and they’ve picked up wins at Bragantino, Botafogo and Ceara in the process.
Athletico PR finished in a mid-table position of 9th at the end of last season but they’ll be looking to make claims for a possible spot in the Copa Libertadores and will be looking once again to forward, Carlos Eduardo, who was last season’s leading goalscorer and whom scored last week’s winning goal in the 1-0 win over America Mineiro.
Athletico PR look to hold the edge here and are best backed with the handicap in this one.