Sunday brings us action from the Brazilian top flight and a top of the table Serie A clash between league leaders, Palmeiras, and their 2nd placed visitors, Atletico Mineiro, when the two teams face off at Allianz Parque in the afternoon.
Palmeiras bring a solid looking seven-match unbeaten run in the domestic top flight which has helped the hosts to the summit of the Serie A table, thanks to gaining four wins and three draws, which include wins against Corinthians, Bragantino, Juventude and Santos.
This season didn’t get off to the best of starts though for Palmeiras as the hosts were handed a 3-2 defeat at home to Ceara.
But they have since staged an impressive recovery with a seven-game unbeaten run.
Palmeiras have lost just two out of their last 10 games at home which include picking up six wins in the process.
But it is interesting to note that their last meeting at home against Atletico Mineiro ended in a 2-2 stalemate towards the end of last season.
Atletico Mineiro occupy 2nd place in the Serie A standings but only due to a slightly inferior goal difference of 3 goals as they are level on points with their Sunday’s hosts ahead of this important clash at Allianz Parque.
Atletico Mineiro boast the exact record as that of their hosts with W4 D3 L1 and they have won their last two games on the trot.
So the visitors will be seeking to add a third consecutive league win on Sunday.
Recent victories over Atletico GO and Avai have helped Atletico Mineiro stay level-pegging with Palmeiras.
But it should be noted that both of these wins were achieved on home soil at their Estádio Governador Magalhães Pinto, while their results away from home have been more circumspect.
Atletico Mineiro have managed to pick up just three wins out of their last 11 games on their travels.
But having also lost just three matches as well, the draw has dominated their results lately on the road, with five of these games being stalemates.
In addition, each of the previous three meetings between Palmeiras and Atletico Mineiro have ended up all square and Sunday’s encounter may be no different with little to choose between the two clubs at the top of the table.