Two teams that are currently in the battle for a place in next season's Copa Sudamericana come together on Sunday night as Atletico Mineiro host Fortaleza at the Arena MRV in Brasileiro Serie A.
The hosts are currently 10th in the table with 13 points from nine games, while the visitors are in 12th due to a lower goal difference than their opponents.
Match preview
Atletico Mineiro will be slightly disappointed with their start to the 2024 campaign as they have so far failed to live up to the third-place finish they achieved last season, currently sitting 10th in the division with 13 points from nine games.
They started the season going unbeaten in their first seven matches, winning three and drawing four, but a recent downturn in form has seen Gabriel Milito's side fall to back-to-back defeats in their most recent outings.
A 4-0 home loss to Palmeiras was followed by a shock 4-2 defeat to Vitoria, who were in the relegation zone at the time of their game and have now climbed into 15th thanks to the victory.
Conceding four goals in successive matches after allowing just five past them in the preceding seven fixtures is not the type of performance that will see Atletico Mineiro qualify for the Copa Libertadores for the fifth consecutive campaign, leaving Milito looking for an improved performance in this one.
Their opponents Fortaleza, on the other hand, come into this game having impressed since their return to the top flight for the 2019 season, qualifying for international competitions in four of the five years since being promoted.
The last campaign saw them miss out on the Copa Libertadores by just two points, and with a game in hand on a majority of those in the top six coming into this game, a win could be vital in getting back into the most prestigious tournament in South American football for next year.
Fortaleza currently trail the top six by just four points with a game in hand on some of those above them, meaning a victory on Sunday would see them climb towards the Copa Libertadores places but also leapfrog their opponents.
Juan Pablo Vojvoda's men brought a three-game losing streak to an end with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Gremio in their previous outing, and Vojvoda will be hoping they can pick up another victory here against a side they have beaten just once on the road in the last six meetings.
Team News
The Copa America is set to start over the weekend, leaving both teams unable to call upon a number of players due to their involvement with their respective national teams.
The hosts will be without Guilherme Arana, Alan Franco and Eduardo Vargas, who are all with their countries for the Copa America.
Otavio and Rubens will also be unavailable due to ongoing injury issues that are expected to keep both out of the side until late July.
The visitors are set to be without Kervin Andrade and Benjamin Kuscevic because of the Copa America, while Juan Lucero will also be out through suspension after an accumulation of yellow cards.
Dudu, Matheus Rossetto, Moises Vieira and Marinho are all also missing due to injuries, although all four are expected to make their return in the coming weeks.
Atletico Mineiro possible starting lineup:
Everson; Saravia, Fuchs, Romulo; Scarpa, Gomes, Battaglia, Alisson; Pedrinho, Zaracho, Cadu
Fortaleza possible starting lineup:
Ricardo; Tinga, Titi, Cardona, Jonatan; Welison, Augusto; Pochettino, Martinez, Lopes, Rocha
We say: Atletico Mineiro 3-1 Fortaleza
Atletico Mineiro may be coming into this game on the back of two consecutive defeats with eight goals conceded in that time, but they have not lost to Fortaleza at home since 2021, leading us to believe the home side will win this one.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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