Atletico Mineiro vs Vasco da Gama Predictions

Wednesday’s Brazilian Serie A action features an interesting clash between Atletico Mineiro and Vasco da Gama at the Estádio Independência. The hosts arrive as favourites to claim all three points in what should be an exciting game.

Whilst a 2-1 win at home to Ceara over the weekend might not sound like much in isolation, it was a massive one for Atletico boss Rodrigo Santana and his troops. Having lost 6 league matches in a row as well as suffering penalty heartbreak in the semi-final of the Copa Sudamericana, the side were coming under huge pressure but managed to find a victory that ensures some respite.

Nonetheless, now 7 points off the all important Copa Libertadores spots, Atletico will know they’ll be under scrutiny once again if they fail to win on Wednesday, so this is a big game for them. The side aren’t finding it hard to score goals but are having problems in keeping them out; a story more than told by the fact that 4 of their last 5 outings have seen goals at both ends.

Meanwhile, Vasco could really do with securing some kind of result in Belo Horizonte as they seek to avoid dropping into a relegation battle. Almirante had started the season in dreadful shape but have improved since Vanderlei Luxemburgo took over, now finding themselves in 14th with a 5 point gap separating them from the drop zone.

Most of Vasco’s good work is being done on home soil however and that does have to be a big concern coming into this trip, with Atletico typically a difficult outfit to visit. Indeed, Vasco fell to defeat on the road at Corinthians over the weekend and that loss means they’ve now came away with nothing in 6 of their 10 away games so far this season.

Ultimately, this should be an exciting game packed with plenty of chances as both teams go for the win. Atletico have to be regarded as clear favourites on home soil but in their current defensive shape, a Vasco outfit that for all their issues on the road, has still managed to score in 4 of their last 6 trips, should be able to cause a degree of threat.

Backing Both Teams to Score really captures our attention in Wednesday’s match and looks like an intelligent way to play as far as the betting is concerned. 5 of the last 6 meetings between the two have featured goals at either end and with Atletico having won their last two home games via 2-1 margins, that’s a scoreline we can envisage being repeated once again here.