Atletico Mineiro vs Botafogo - prediction, team news, lineups

Atletico Mineiro volition invited Botafogo to Arena MRV connected Sunday successful a nonstop conflict betwixt 2 sides level connected points successful the mediate of the Brasileiro table.

The affectional juncture surrounding Hulk's farewell to the Atletico faithful adds different furniture to an already important encounter, with some clubs aiming to reignite their propulsion toward the apical six aft inconsistent caller home form.

Match preview

Sunday's clash successful Belo Horizonte volition people the extremity of an epoch for Atletico Mineiro arsenic nine fable Hulk prepares to officially accidental goodbye to the supporters earlier completing his determination to Fluminense aft the Club World Cup.

The 39-year-old leaves Atletico aft a hugely palmy five-year spell successful which helium scored 140 goals and produced 55 assists successful 309 appearances, helping the nine unafraid the Brasileiro and Copa bash Brasil treble successful 2021.

However, contempt the affectional ambiance surrounding the farewell, Eduardo Dominguez volition beryllium hopeless to support absorption connected the transportation arsenic Atletico proceed searching for consistency successful the league.

The Galo yet ended a tally of 3 consecutive Brasileiro defeats past play with an awesome 3-1 distant triumph implicit Cruzeiro successful the Mineiro derby. Alan Minda, Maycon and Mateo Cassierra each recovered the nett successful a devastating counter-attacking show earlier Kaio Jorge grabbed a precocious consolation for Cruzeiro.

That triumph lifted Atletico into 11th place, level connected points with Botafogo heading into this weekend, and erstwhile again highlighted the effectiveness of Dominguez's nonstop benignant successful transition.

Even so, Atletico's broader signifier remains unstable, arsenic they person mislaid 3 of their past 5 league matches, portion their continental frustrations continued successful midweek aft surrendering a two-goal pb successful a 2-2 gully against Juventud successful the Copa Sudamericana.

That effect near the Brazilian broadside nether superior unit successful Group B, meaning assurance wrong the squad remains fragile contempt the derby success.

Still, Arena MRV has mostly been Atletico's strongest limb this season, with the nine winning fractional of their location league matches compared to conscionable a 25% occurrence complaint distant from home, and they volition anticipation the affectional vigor surrounding Hulk's farewell tin further assistance the atmosphere.

Botafogo, meanwhile, get successful Belo Horizonte successful somewhat calmer spirits aft efficaciously securing their spot successful the Copa Libertadores knockout playoff circular during midweek.

Franclim Carvalho's side defeated Racing Club 2-1 acknowledgment to an ain extremity from Marco Di Cesare and a onslaught from Danilo, opening up a six-point cushion implicit the Argentine broadside successful the radical standings.

That continental occurrence helped erase immoderate vexation pursuing past weekend's disappointing location decision to Remo successful the Brasileiro, a effect that prevented Botafogo from moving person to the apical five.

The Rio nine presently beryllium six points down fifth-placed Athletico-PR, meaning determination is inactive enactment to bash if they privation to re-enter the Copa Libertadores qualification race.

One large affirmative for Botafogo has been their distant form, having won 3 of their past 4 Brasileiro matches distant from Nilton Santos and presently boast 1 of the division's strongest distant records, averaging astir 2 goals scored per crippled connected the road.

Their gait successful attacking transitions done Matheus Martins and Montoro could beryllium unsafe against an Atletico defence that has present conceded successful 10 consecutive matches crossed each competitions.

The visitors volition besides instrumentality assurance from Atletico's antiaircraft instability, particularly with Dominguez missing respective important players successful cardinal areas.

Atletico Mineiro Brasileiro form:

Atletico Mineiro signifier (all competitions):

Botafogo Brasileiro form:

Botafogo signifier (all competitions):

Team News

Atletico Mineiro volition beryllium without suspended duo Lyanco and Alan Franco for Sunday's brushwood aft some picked up disciplinary bans successful the derby triumph implicit Cruzeiro.

Hulk has already terminated his declaration and volition not feature, though helium is expected to beryllium contiguous astatine Arena MRV for a farewell ceremonial earlier kickoff.

Eduardo Dominguez is inactive waiting connected the fittingness of Cisse, Victor Hugo and Cuello, each of whom stay successful the aesculapian section but could instrumentality to the squad depending connected their last grooming session.

Maycon and Alan Minda are some expected to support their places aft awesome performances successful the derby victory, portion Mateo Cassierra should erstwhile again pb the line.

Botafogo, meanwhile, are acceptable to beryllium without Alexander Barboza, who is adjacent to completing a determination to Palmeiras and is not expected to play again for the nine successful the Brasileiro.

Junior Santos is besides improbable to diagnostic against his genitor nine due to the fact that Botafogo would request to wage a interest to usage him.

Vitinho misses retired done suspension aft accumulating yellowish cards, portion Arthur Cabral is expected to proceed spearheading the onslaught aft different beardown show successful the Libertadores triumph implicit Racing.

Atletico Mineiro imaginable starting lineup:

Everson; Ruan, Vitor Hugo, Alonso; Natanael, Perez, Maycon, Lodi; Minda, Bernard; Cassierra

Botafogo imaginable starting lineup:

Raul; Ponte, Bastos, Ferraresi, Telles; Allan, Danilo; Montoro, Edenilson, Martins; Cabral

We say: Atletico Mineiro 1-1 Botafogo

Both teams get with assurance boosted by important caller victories, but neither broadside has shown capable consistency to afloat person successful caller weeks.

Atletico's antiaircraft problems proceed to undermine them contempt signs of attacking betterment nether Dominguez, portion Botafogo's beardown distant signifier suggests they are susceptible of taking vantage of the spaces apt to look astatine Arena MRV.

Given the equilibrium betwixt the sides and the affectional backdrop surrounding Hulk's farewell, a competitory gully appears the astir apt outcome.

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