Atletico Mineiro vs Palmeiras Predictions

Sunday’s Brazilian Serie A action sees Atletico Mineiro doing battle with Palmeiras. The visitors will be looking to claim all 3 points to maintain their grip over the top of the table.

Hosts Atletico arrive in terrible form and whilst they started the campaign looking like they could potentially challenge for the crown, they’re now at real risk of not even holding onto a Copa Libertadores slot, currently only inside the top 6 courtesy of goal difference.

As such, there’s a lot riding on Galo’s final 6 match but not even a change in the dugout has sparked an improvement in form, with Levir Culpi having lost his first 3 games in charge. Said results mean Atletico have now taken just 1 point from the last available 15 and having scored just once along that streak, it’s clear for all to see that confidence is at rock bottom in home ranks.

Meanwhile, while Palmeiras may well have suffered heartbreak in the Copa Libertadores, crashing out at the semi-final stage, it remains plain sailing as far as Serie A goes, with Verdao 5 points clear at the top with the season now in its final straight. Retaining focus and seeing what should now be a title winning campaign through is the only aim for the visitors and they’ll arrive in Belo Horizonte targeting 3 points.

For Palmeiras to be in such a strong position is a real testament to the work Luiz Felipe Scolari has done since returning to the club a few months back. When he stepped into the dugout he inherited a team plagued by consistency issues and looking well off the title pace, but he’s since transformed them into a winning machine, having claimed maximum points in 12 of the last 15 league matches.

Ultimately, taking the current state of each team into mind, this looks something of a mismatch and you’d have to fancy Palmeiras to get the better of the home side. Atletico Mineiro have been outright terrible for an entire month now and it’s hard to envisage that changing with such a powerful opponent in town.

At current prices, backing an away win looks to provide excellent value and is exactly where our money is going. Unbeaten in 8 on the road in Serie A, Palmeiras will not be fazed by running out on enemy territory here and we think they’ll edge closer to glory via a 1-0 margin of victory.