On Thursday night, Atletico Mineiro travel to face Bahia in the Brazilian Serie A, in a massive game at both ends of the table.
While this is a massive game for the visitors, it is also a big game for Bahia, as they are currently in the relegation zone. Guto Ferreira’s team heads into this clash two points adrift of safety, with just three league matches remaining.
A recent poor run of league form including just one win and three defeats in their previous five matches could prove to be Bahia’s downfall.
Bahia have been shaky in defence, as only two teams in Serie A have conceded more goals than the home team this season.
Despite their perilous position in the league table, Bahia are unbeaten in eight games in Serie A. However, half of those unbeaten matches have ended in draws, which may have hindered their survival chances, rather than enhance them.
Atletico Mineiro heads into this game just one win away from claiming the Brazilian top-flight title. The visitors are eight points clear of second-place Flamengo, who can only watch and hope for an unlikely collapse from Atletico.
Cuca’s team are seven matches unbeaten in Serie A going into this potentially decisive encounter. A 2-1 win over Fluminense means that the league leaders have won six of those seven unbeaten matches.
Atletico Mineiro have been prolific in recent league games, scoring at least two goals in four of their previous five matches in Serie A.
The visitors have a poor away record in the Brazilian top-flight, as they have won just one of their previous six league matches on their travels.
Forebet predicts that Atletico Mineiro will record a victory in a low-scoring encounter to seal the Serie A title.