Figueirense vs Ponte Preta Predictions, Betting Tips and Match Previews

Saturday’s Brazilian Serie B action sees Figueirense playing host to Ponte Preta. The home side will be looking to extend a 6 match unbeaten run that has them coming into the match high on confidence.

After almost suffering relegation last season, a campaign in which they were amongst the favourites to be promoted, Figueirense have certainly made a more promising start to Serie B this year.

Furacão have claimed an impressive 21 points from their opening 12 matches, enough to see them occupy the final promotion spot at the time of writing and boss Milton Cruz has them looking a very competitive and cohesive unit. The hosts proved to be exactly that last weekend, ending Coritiba’s 100% home record by claiming an impressive point and the target now is to build on a relatively solid home record which reads 5 wins from the last 8 matches.

Meanwhile, after dropping down from the top flight, Ponte Preta have made a very poor start to the season and don’t look like fighting for an immediate return. Macaca have taken just 15 points so far and that sees them worring about matters at the other end of the table instead; languishing just above the relegation spots.

Interim boss João Brigatti had got off to a decent start in the Ponte dugout, claiming 7 points from his first 3 matches in charge, but the side look to be struggling once again following a lacklustre 2-0 defeat at CRB and a poor 1-1 draw with CSA last time out, leaving confidence low ahead of arrival for this one.

Overall it’s Figueirense who have made the far better start to the season and arrive in the better shape. They look a far better team than the side that struggled so greatly last season and could well be in the promotion mix come the end of the season if they can continue to play in the same manner.

Ponte meanwhile have failed to inspire and we can only envisage them struggling in this fixture, making backing a Figueirense win the only way to play. They’re running along nicely at the moment and shouldn’t be troubled too greatly by a Ponte side that hasn’t even managed to score in 4 of its last 5 games on the road.

All things considered, taking into account Figueirense’s strong recent form and Ponte’s impotency on their travels, a 1-0 home victory looks to be on the cards and is a scoreline worth backing in combination with our main tip.