With both sides just inside the top half of the early Brasileirao table, Santos welcome Atletico Mineiro to Vila Belmiro on Sunday.

After finishing third last season, the visitors are keen to mount another title challenge this term but must make up ground lost to the leading sides this week, having taken just one point from two winnable games.

Match preview

Following a disappointing draw against bottom side Gremio last time out, Santos have won just two of their opening six Campeonato Brasileiro matches, leaving the eight-time champions currently sitting 10th in the Serie A table.

Frustratingly for coach Fernando Diniz, the Alvinegro had gone into Friday's fixture on the back of a 2-0 win in the San-Sao derby against Sao Paulo last weekend, but ultimately required a 78th-minute equaliser from top scorer Marinho to salvage a 2-2 draw in Porto Alegre.

They have lost three of their last five league and cup encounters with this weekend's opponents, so will undoubtedly host Atletico Mineiro as underdogs given their indifferent start to the season.

While the experienced Marinho has weighed in with three goals so far, star man Kaio Jorge has failed to fire in front of goal - with just one league strike in the opening part of the campaign.

The highly-rated teenage centre-forward was a revelation last year, as he drew comparisons with Roberto Firmino due to his versatility and ability to link play; combining cleverly with Venezuelan winger Yeferson Soteldo - who has since been sold to cover mounting debts.

This term, Santos have necessarily persisted with youth again, as unpaid transfer fees meant that FIFA banned them from signing new players. Therefore, the Copa Libertadores finalists represent a somewhat diminished prospect under Diniz, who replaced Argentine coach Ariel Holan ahead of this 2021 campaign.

After they had gone into last weekend on a five-match winning streak in all competitions - remaining unbeaten since the opening round of Serie A fixtures - Atletico Mineiro have suffered a stumble in the past few days.

Slipping to seventh following a 1-1 draw with lowly Chapecoense and a shock midweek defeat to Ceara, the Alvinegro will be keen to bounce back quickly and keep pace with early leaders RB Bragantino.

Thursday's 2-1 loss was all the more galling for the Belo Horizonte-based side, as they conceded from a stoppage-time penalty having dominated throughout with two-thirds of the possession.

Under current Marseille coach Jorge Sampaoli last season, Atletico contended for the championship, posting their highest league placing in five years. However, when the well-travelled Argentine resigned earlier this year, Cuca - now in his second spell at the Mineirao - stepped back into the hotseat.

As the former Santos boss returns to face his old employers this Sunday, he will be seeking a repeat of the last time these two clubs came together - when Atletico beat Santos 2-0 back in January.

Team News

For the trip to Santos this weekend, Atletico Mineiro will still be without versatile defender Junior Alonso, who is representing Paraguay at the Copa America, and they also have a number of other probable absentees.

Nacho Fernandez, Nathan, Dylan Borrero, Igor Rabello and Marrony have all tested positive for COVID-19 so will not be involved, while Dodo could remain sidelined with a thigh injury.

In attack, powerful forward Hulk should be supported by Matias Zaracho and Hyoran, with young Luis Filipe an option from the bench.

The home side, meanwhile, are expected to be without goalkeeper John Victor again - after he picked up a knee sprain in the win against Sao Paulo - so Joao Paulo will deputise between the sticks for Santos.

The Peixe also remain without Jobson, Sandry Roberto and Rafael Longuine, while Raniel is also ruled out with an Achilles injury. Up front, then, will be teenage tyro Kaio Jorge, with Marinho and Marcos Guilherme cutting in from the flanks.

Santos possible starting lineup:
Paulo; Para, Peres, Felipe, Jonatan; Mota, Camacho; Marinho, Pirani, Guilherme; Jorge

Atletico Mineiro possible starting lineup:
Everson; Guga, Rever, Gabriel, Arana; Allan, Tche Tche, Zaracho, Jair, Hyoran; Hulk

We say: Santos 1-2 Atletico Mineiro

After a difficult few days for Atletico Mineiro, expect them to bounce back and assert their credentials in this fixture against a declining Santos side.

Claiming victory on Sunday would push the visitors closer to the upper echelons of the standings, where they are surely destined to finish come the end of a long and arduous season.