Before the Round – Trends on Brasileiro Serie B (19-20/07)

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Vila Nova and Criciuma are tied at the top of Brazil’s Serie B, with 34 points from 17 matches played. In midweek, both teams will be in action, as they try to wrestle away sole position of first place.

Meanwhile, 16th-place Chapecoense are trying to get away from the bottom of the table.

Chapecoense – Ituano

Chapecoense will host Ituano in a six-point relegation battle. Ituano will start the round in 14th place but just six points off the bottom three. Sixteenth-placed Chapecoense are one point above the bottom three.

Ituano are unbeaten in two straight games against Chapecoense. Last season, Ituano got a 1-1 draw at Chapecoense before winning 1-0 at home. Ituano are on a three-match unbeaten streak, in which they took five points from nine on offer.

Chapecoense took six points from the last six games. They are coming off a 2-1 home win over CRB. Chapecoense are on a three-game unbeaten streak at home, with five points from nine.

• Chapecoense SC have won just 1 of their last 10 league games.
• In their 7 most recent matches of Serie B, Ituano/SP have been undefeated 6 times.
• Chapecoense SC have won just 1 of their last 8 home league games.
• Ituano/SP's last 4 games in the Serie B have been low-scoring, with under 2.5 goals scored.
• Prediction: Under 2.5 goals.

Ponte Preta – Juventude

Juventude won their last two matches against Ponte Preta in all competitions, but those two wins came back in 2020. The Green posted a record of four wins and two losses against Ponte Preta in their last six head-to-head meetings.

Ponte Preta won three of their last four league matches. They go into round No 18 in 13th place in the standings. Ponte Preta scored the second-fewest goals in Serie B, with just 10.

Juventude go into the match unbeaten in their last four matches. The Green are eighth in the standings and eight points off the top two. Juventude took four points from their last six on the road.

• Ponte Preta haven't lost in 7 of their last 8 home matches in Serie B.
• Juventude haven't lost a match in 9 of their last 11 matches in Serie B.
• Ponte Preta have seen under 2.5 goals in their last 11 games in Serie B.
• In their 3 most recent matches in Serie B, Juventude have seen under 2.5 goals scored.
• Prediction: Both to score - No.

Atletico Goianiense – Mirassol

Atletico Goianiense and Mirassol will meet in a Serie B top-nine match. Mirassol are sixth in the league and seven points off the top two. Atletico Goianiense are ninth and just one point behind Mirassol in the standings.

Mirassol are not in good form ahead of round No 18. They failed to win their last four matches, picking up two points from 12 on offer. Their last three matches ended with under 2.5 goals.

Atletico Goianiense are in better form, as they took 10 points from the last 18 points on offer. The team went unbeaten in each of their last six fixtures. Atletico Goianiense went unbeaten in their last three home matches.

• No defeats can be found in Atlético GO's 6 most recent games in Serie B.
• Under 2.5 goals have been scored in the 3 most recent Serie B games of Mirassol/SP.
• Atlético GO have won only 2 of their last 11 Serie B matches.
• Mirassol/SP have scored an average of 0.88 goals in their away games in Serie B.
• Prediction: Under 2.5 goals.

Ceara - Vila Nova

Vila Nova are aiming to hang onto first place, as they visit Ceara for round 18. Ceara have a strong head-to-head record against Vila Nova, with four wins, a draw, and just one defeat in the last six matches. However, these teams have not met since 2017.

Vila Nova are coming off a shock 1-0 loss to 18th-placed Londrina last time out. They took 10 points out of the last 18 points on offer in the league. No team has conceded fewer goals than Vila Nova’s six this season.

Ceara went unbeaten in their last two games, with four points from six on offer. They are not a strong home team and have a record of 3W-1D-4L. Ceara scored just eight goals in their eight home fixtures.

• In their 6 most recent matches of Serie B, Ceará SC have achieved just 1 wins.
• Vila Nova FC are undefeated in 32 of their last 37 Serie B games.
• Ceará SC have no losses in 6 of their 7 most recent encounters with Vila Nova FC (Serie B).
• In Vila Nova FC's last 4 Serie B games have been scored under 2.5 goals.
• Prediction: Vila Nova to win.