Atletico Mineiro host Sport Recife this Saturday, and the home side currently sit in top spot of the Campeonato Brasileiro, heading into the weekend with a seven-point advantage over second-place side Palmeiras.
Sport Recife are battling to avoid relegation and are second from bottom in the table with 17 points from 20 league games this season.
Match preview
Atletico Mineiro are in incredible league form, unbeaten in their previous 12 league fixtures, with their last defeat in Campeonato Brasileiro coming on June 28 against Santos, which resulted in a 2-0 loss.
In those 12 games they have only drawn twice, collecting 32 points from a possible 36 and scoring 23 times in that period.
Their last league outing resulted in a 2-0 victory away win to Fortaleza, which came courtesy of goals from Federico Zaracho and Junior Alonso.
They also enter the weekend fresh off a Copa do Brasil win, which saw them advance to the semi-finals after Hulk's penalty sealed a 1-0 victory.
The hosts are aiming to win their first Campeonato Brasileiro since 1971 and they will be confident of adding to their points tally this weekend having won six matches from their eight league home games this season.
Sport Recife enter the game in the relegation zone, five points off safety and they are desperate to pick up points to start moving up the table.
The visitors are winless in their last six fixtures and have only collected three points in that time, with their last victory coming at the start of August against Bahia, which resulted in a 1-0 win.
Their previous league outing saw them lose 1-0 at home to Internacional, the only goal of the game coming in the fourth minute when Patrick found the net.
Sport Recife's away form has yielded more points than their home games, collecting 10 points from their 10 away matches this season, and they will be aiming to add to that this weekend.
The visitors last emerged victorious against Atletico Mineiro in May 2018, and in the four games since that match they have lost three of the four encounters between the two sides.
- W
- W
- W
- D
- D
- W
- W
- D
- W
- D
- W
- W
- D
- L
- L
- D
- D
- L
Team News
Atletico Mineiro will be without the services of Mariano and Jair this Saturday after the pair picked up their third yellow card of the league season last weekend, which means they will both serve a one-match suspension.
Sergio Coelho is likely to bring Guga and Tche Tche into the starting lineup to replace the suspended duo.
The home side are also without Jefferson Savarino who is unavailable through injury.
Sport Recife have selection concerns of their own, as both Neilton and Thiago are likely to miss out with injuries.
Midfielder Joao Igor is a long-term absentee, so will not be available for this encounter.
Sport Recife have struggled to find the net this campaign, but Mikael will look to add to his one league goal this season, as he is set to start once again on Saturday.
Atletico Mineiro possible starting lineup:
Everson; Guga, Silva, Alonso, Arana; Tche Tche, Allan, Fernandez; Zaracho, Vargas, Hulk
Sport Recife possible starting lineup:
Mailson; Hayner, Thyere, Sabino, Sander; Marcao, Welison, Hernanes; Neves, Moccelin, Mikael
We say: Atletico Mineiro 3-0 Sport Recife
Atletico Mineiro are in scintillating form and that is unlikely to change here against a side battling relegation, and fans can expect a dominant display from the side aiming to win the league title.
A point from this encounter is Sport Recife's best hope, but that may prove to be too tough of a task against a high quality side.
Top tip
body check tags ::
