There is a complete set of mid-week fixtures to enjoy in the Brazilian top-flight this week and on Friday 14th June we have a potentially great game between Atletico Mineiro and Sao Paulo to watch. The game will take place at the Estádio Raimundo Sampaio in Belo Horizonte.
Atletico Mineiro begin the week in 3rd place with 15 points from their eight games played. That leaves them 4 points behind Palmeiras who currently top the table. Sao Paulo are in 8th place and have 13 points to their name so a win would move them above their opponents.
The hosts suffered a set-back in their early title challenge on the weekend as they lost 3-1 at Santos. It was their first defeat in four games and Atletico Mineiro were 2-0 down at half-time before going on to lose 3-1.
Prior to that defeat, Atletico Mineiro won three games in succession, defeating Union La Calera in the Copa Sudamerica and CSA at in the league at home plus Santos away in the Copa do Brasil.
Atletico Mineiro are difficult to beat at home in Serie A and trends show they have won five of their last six matches. There have been wins over Bahia, Botafogo, Avai, Flamengo and CSA. The only defeat came against the league leaders, Palmeiras.
Atletico Mineiro have scored 2 or more goals in three of their last four home league games, with Palmeiras being the only team to shut them out in their last seven on home soil.
Sao Paulo made a strong start to the campaign but have been struggling in recent weeks. Trends show they have failed to win any of their last six games in all competitions. There have been three draws and three defeats, with two of the draws coming in their last two matches.
Both games were in Serie A and Sao Paulo were held by Cruzeiro at home before picking up a point at Avai. However, they have been unbeaten in seven of their last eight league games, the loss at Corinthians being their only defeat in that run of matches.
High scoring games is not something you see often with Sao Paulo and they have seen under 2.5 goals in twenty-four of their last twenty-eight Serie A matches. They have failed to score a goal in four of their last six games on the road.
Team news and Atletico Mineiro are without Gustavo Blanco who has a long term knee injury. They also have doubts over the fitness of Leonardo Silva, Claudio Rodrigues Gomes Guga and Uilson.
Sao Paulo travel without Pablo and Joao Rojas who not expected back until late June. Everton, Liziero, Biro Biro and Lucao are all doubts.
Anything over 2.5 goals is rare when watching Sao Paulo and we could be in for something similar in this match. However, Atletico Mineiro are the team expected to come out on top and they could do so with a clean sheet.