Sports Mole previews Wednesday’s Copa do Brasil clash between Sport Recife and Atletico Mineiro, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Sport Recife and Atletico Mineiro will meet on Wednesday night at Arena Pernambuco in leg two of the third round of the Copa do Brazil.
With Estadio Ilha do Retiro currently undergoing renovations, Arena Pernambuco will be hosting a match between Sport and Atletico-MG for the first time in history.
Match preview
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Brasileirao Serie B outfit Sport reached the third round of the Copa do Brazil by comfortably beating Trem 4-0 in round one before getting by Murici on penalties after their second match ended 1-1 in regulation time.
However, they were no match for the Serie A outfit in the first leg at the start of the month, with Atletico dominating the match from the first whistle, scoring a goal in each half to lead the tie 2-0 heading into this week’s showdown.
Mariano Soso‘s side bounced back from that defeat with back-to-back wins in Serie B, beating Coritiba and Brusque 1-0 and 4-1, respectively, but lost their last two games against Ituano (1-0) and Avai (2-1).
While the Lions of the North have only lost two home games this season, first in the Pernambucano 1 to Retro and then against Avai in Serie B last week, they have failed to beat this opponent in their last five attempts (W0 D1 L4), dating back to 2018.
Meanwhile, Atletico-MG got their Copa do Brazil campaign started with a dominant performance at Arena MRV and hold a two-goal advantage thanks to goals from Matias Zaracho and Guilherme Arana.
Galo enjoyed 65% possession across the 90, managed 17 shots at goal, including eight on target and could have been three goals up heading into this encounter had Hulk‘s headed effort in the second half found the back of the net instead of cannoning off the upright.
Following that match, Atletico came from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Fluminense on the road in Serie B right before Brazil’s soccer confederation decided to suspend the next two rounds of the league due to the massive floods in the country’s south. The decision was made after a request for a halt was received from 15 of the 20 clubs in the top-flight division.
Gabriel Milito has made a positive start to life in Belo Horizonte since replacing Luiz Felipe Scolari in March, managing a record of four wins, one draw and just one loss in his first six games in charge of his new club.
That sole defeat came last week away to Penarol in the Copa Libertadores and was the only one that the side have conceded in their last 13 matches in all competitions, dating back to a 2-1 loss to America Mineiro on March 18.
Despite that result, Atletico have already booked their place in the last 16 of the continental competition and require just a single point from their final match against Caracas to secure top-spot in Group G.
Sport Recife Copa do Brasil form:
Sport Recife form (all competitions):
Atletico Mineiro Copa do Brasil form:
Atletico Mineiro form (all competitions):
Team News
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Sport will be without the services of centre-back Renzo, who sustained a cruciate ligament injury at the start of March and is expected to remain sidelined for the foreseeable future.
Chrystian Barletta looked bright after coming off the bench for the last half-hour of the first leg and will be hoping to make the starting 11 this time, which could see Lucas Lima drop to the bench.
Atletico midfielder Otavio lasted less than 20 minutes against Penarol before sustaining a thigh injury and has been ruled out of action until the end of June, which should see Igor Gomes take his place in the centre of the park.
Rubens and summer arrival Paulo Vitor are still recovering from a sprained knee and ankle injury, respectively, and will play no part in this week’s trip to Pernambuco.
Sport Recife possible starting lineup:
Franca; Lima, Thyere, Castan, Filipinho; Dominguez, Felipe, Romarinho, Barletta; Lopes, Ortiz
Atletico Mineiro possible starting lineup:
Everson; Arana, Fuchs, Battaglia, Saravia; Scarpa, Gomes, Franco, Zaracho; Paulinho, Hulk
We say: Sport Recife 1-3 Atletico Mineiro
Atletico Mineiro suffered an unexpected defeat in the Copa Libertadores last week and will be looking to bounce back with another commanding performance here. Despite giving it their all in the first leg, Sport were no match for the Serie A powerhouse, and we feel they will struggle to keep up in this one as well.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.