Brazil midfielder Kaká and center back Miranda. (Photo : Getty Images)
Fan-favorite Brazil (0-1-0, 0 points) will try to bounce back from their opening day defeat as they clash with Venezuela (0-1-0, 0 points) in the CONMEBOL 2018 World Cup qualifying tournament. The matchday 2 affair is scheduled at the Estádio Castelão in Fortaleza on October 13, Tuesday.
The Seleção side is set to play without their team captain Neymar, who is still serving his suspension from last June's Copa America brawl, in this match but will be back against Argentina for the team's third matchday game.
Brazil fell to Chile, 0-2, in their opener last week at the Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos in Santiago as wingers Eduardo Vargas and Alexis Sánchez poured in a goal each in the second half of the match, as reported by Yahoo Sports.
Coach Dunga's men are seemingly playing without inspiration as opposed to the enthusiastic hosts of La Roja. The 51-year-old manager will have to find a way to get his boys on the groove before Neymar arrives.
Meanwhile, La Vinotinto dropped a tough 0-1 game to Paraguay in their opener at the Estadio Cachamay in Ciudad Guayana, Venezuela also on Thursday last week.
Noel Sanvicente's squad was unable to prevent Los Guaraníes' Derlis González from finding the net at the 85th minute to surrender the 3 points to Paraguay, via Goal.
Venezuela will try to take advantage of Neymar's absence in this match versus Brazil, although Dunga still has a lot weapons available against the lowly Los Llaneros.
The predicted result is a 3-0 romp for Brazil.
Brazil starting lineup (4-2-3-1 formation): Jefferson; Miranda, Luiz, Marcelo, Alves; Costa, Elias; Oscar, Gustavo, Willian; Hulk
Venezuela starting lineup (4-3-3 formation): Baroja; Vizcarrondo, Cichero, Rosales, Rincón; González, Seijas, Lucena; Suárez, Falcón, Rondón
