Atletico Mineiro vs Cruzeiro Predictions, Betting Tips and Match Previews

It’s derby day in Saturday’s Brazilian Serie A action, with rivals Atletico Mineiro and Cruzeiro locking horns. An open game with plenty of chances at both ends is expected to be in order as the two chase Belo Horizonte bragging rights.

Said rights are something Atletico will be simply desperate to claim, having lost the Campeonato Mineiro final to their rivals on penalties earlier on in the year, after a 3-3 aggregate draw. Thiago Largi’s troops are starting to come under pressure following recent Copa Sudamericana and Brazilian Cup exits and with the letter having come midweek, spirits aren’t exactly high in home ranks coming into this one.

Nonetheless, Galo have made an excellent start to their Serie A campaign, only behind leaders Flamengo on goal difference and they’ll be looking to add more points to the board here. Possessing some very talented attacking players, Atletico have the potential to hurt any side and so it’s proved so far, finding the net in all of their league outings so far and arriving having won 3 of the their last 4 Serie A matches, scoring an average of 1.75 goals a game in the process.

Meanwhile, Cruzeiro are really starting to build momentum and will be looking to continue that trend in this derby. A 2-1 win at Atletico PR in the cup midweek made it 6 matches unbeaten across all competitions for Mano Menezes’s men, 5 of which wins and having scored an impressive average of 2.66 goals a game over that period, La Bestia Negra take to the Estádio Independência turf firing on all cylinders.

After taking just 1 point from their opening 3 league matches, the visitors have ground to make up but wins over Botafogo and Sport Recife in recent Serie A clashes have put the side well on the way to doing that, currently standing 8th. A win here at the enemy would take Cruzeiro level on points with their opponents and that’s certainly something those in blue will look to do, with it not in their nature to sit back and defend.

This should be a great watch and we’re anticipating a night of drama and goals. Both parties’ front 4 have the ability to wreak havoc on their respective day and with the will to win so high in each camp, we should see attacking football from the two, as is normally the case in this fixture, with 4 of the last 6 meetings having seen goals at both ends.

That market is exactly where our money is going on Saturday, with the line offering great value at current prices. As for the result itself, things look far less clear cut and a 2-2 draw may be on the cards, with separating each team very difficult. Cruzeiro have more momentum behind them but it’d be a big ask for them to win at an Atletico side unbeaten in 8 home matches, so the visitors will more than likely have to settle for a share of the spoils.

Atletico Mineiro possible starting XI: Victor; Patric, Silva, Gabriel, Santos; Adilson, Elias, Luan, Cazares, Guedes; Oliveira.

Cruzeiro possible starting XI: Fabio; Romero, Leo, Dede, Egidio; Silva, Henrique, Arrascaeta, Robinho, Rafinha; Sassa.