Atletico Mineiro, reigning Brasileiro Serie A champions and five-time winners of the competition, will be looking to close in on the summit when they welcome Fortaleza to Mineirao on Saturday with kickoff at 3:00 am.
After suffering four successive defeats, Atletico Mineiro have since won two consecutive matches at home – against Flamengo in the league and in the first leg of their Copa do Brasil last-16 tie on Thursday.
Ademir scored a 55th-minute goal to put the hosts two goals ahead and although Lazaro pulled one back for the visitors in the 80th minute, Atletico held on for the win and will take a narrow advantage into the second leg next month.
While Antonio Mohamed’s side will have one eye on retaining their Copa do Brasil title, they will now turn their attention back to the Brasileiro Serie A (the Brazilian league championship), where they sit in fourth place and trail league leaders Palmeiras by seven points.
After following up their 1-0 league victory at home to America Mineiro with a 2-0 home win against Ceara in the first leg of their Copa do Brasil last-16 tie on Thursday, Fortaleza have enjoyed a successful week.
Yago Pikachu scored all three goals across the two matches. His second-half brace against Ceara, including a penalty kick, gave Juan Pablo Vojvoda’s side a two-goal advantage for next month’s second leg.
Atletico Mineiro vs Fortaleza Head to Head
Both sides have 12 games against each other with hosts taking 6 wins while visitors with 4 wins. Here is a look at their previous encounters:
Home
- Atletico Mineiro 2-1 Flamengo
- Atletico Mineiro 2-0 Flamengo
- Ceara 0-0 Atletico Mineiro
- Atletico Mineiro 1-1 Santos
Away
- Fortaleza 2-0 Ceara
- Fortaleza 1-0 Atletico Mineiro
- Avai 3-2 Fortaleza
- Fortaleza 0-0 Paranaense
Atletico Mineiro Team News
Atletico Mineiro midfielder Jair, who fractured his hand in the Copa Libertadores, is still out of action. Matias Zaracho and Dodo are ruled out with respective muscle and knee injuries. Manchester City-bound teenager Savio returned to the substitutes’ bench last time out after recovering from COVID-19.
Fortaleza Team News
Forward Romarinho is set to miss the rest of this month with a thigh injury, while defender Tinga faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines after sustaining ligament damage. Marcelo Benevenuto will likely start again at center-back, shielding goalkeeper Marcelo Boeck, while Pikachu and Juninho Capixaba continue to operate as wing-backs.
Prediction and Odds
The hosts have enough quality in their side to come away with all three points in Belo Horizonte.
- Home Win
- Goals Over 1.5
- Double Chance: Home
