Criciúma vs Juventude Prediction: Two teams promoted from the Série B meet in Round 1

These two southern Brazilian sides know each other very well, as they successfully fought for promotion to the Série A last season. Criciúma finished third in the Série B, while Juventude was second. Only one point separated the two teams. The two small clubs will try to avoid relegation with their modest budgets.

Criciúma

The Tiger returned to the Série A ten years after its last appearance and has just won the Santa Catarina Championship, so the enthusiasm of its fans is enormous. The team coached by Cláudio Tencati has a possession-based, attacking style of play, and we'll see if it can keep it up against the big teams in the Brasileirão. The club's most surprising signing was Yannick Bolasie, the former Everton and Crystal Palace player. Criciúma wants to get off to a good start in the Série A against a direct opponent.

Juventude

The Caxias do Sul side was relegated to the Série B two seasons ago but only stayed there for a year. The return to the elite of Brazilian football was quick, and the club now hopes to stabilize in Série A. This season, Juventude showed some positive signs by knocking out Internacional in the semi-finals of the Campeonato do Rio Grande do Sul. In the final, Grêmio was superior and won the Gaúchão for the seventh time in a row. Juventude is a humble and hard-working team that will probably play defensively often during the Brasileirão. Juventude will be looking to pick up a point in Criciúma to begin the championship well.

Expert Betting Tips

The two teams have met 24 times in their history, and Juventude has a slight advantage with ten wins to Criciúma's seven. The Tiger hasn't beaten the Ju at home in 20 years but has a good chance this time. Criciúma has plenty of confidence, and the fact that it's playing against a team it knows well from the Série B could ease the nerves of the opening game. I'm betting on a Double Chance in favor of the home team with a total of goals in the game under four.