A solitary goal from Fred handed Brazil a slender 1-0 win over Serbia in an international friendly at the Estadio Do Maracana on Friday night.

Brazil controlled the early possession stakes, but the first real effort on goal went the way of Serbia in the ninth minute when Aleksandar Kolarov fired a powerful shot inches wide of the post from the edge of the box.

In the 18^th minute Brazil finally got an attempt on goal, but Dani Alves’ 35-yard thunderbolt sailed inches wide of the goal.

Seven minutes later Neymar played Fred into some space on the edge of the box, but the latter shot just wide of the target.

In the 32^nd minute Serbia came close to finding the back of the net when Aleksandar Mitrovic met a cross from Dusan Tadic, but his header skimmed the wrong side of the post.

Brazil finished the half the stronger of the two sides with David Luiz having the last attempt of the half in the 42^nd minute, but his shot from roughly 20-yards out sailed over the crossbar.

The start of the second half saw Brazil begin to dictate terms and they made their pressure tell in the 58^th minute when Fred turned home a Thiago Silva cross from the centre of the box, 1-0.

Ten minutes later Neymar came close to doubling his side’s lead when he fired inches over the crossbar from just outside the box.

Serbia tried to find their way back into the game, but Brazil held on for the slender and unimpressive win.