Melgar vs Atletico Mineiro Betting Tips and Predictions

This is an intriguing match from a betting perspective as Melgar are something of an unknown quantity on the big stage. Despite being one of Peru’s oldest clubs, they’d only twice finished in the top two overall prior to last year so their success was a big shock for the country’s usual powers.

They did play in the Copa Sudamericana 1st round last year and in 2013 but that is about as far as their continental experience goes. Their results in those competitions make for interesting reading. In their home town of Arequipa, 2300 metres above sea level they won their home legs by 2-0 and 4-0 scorelines but lost the away legs by 3-0 and 5-0 scorelines to exit at the first hurdle both times against Colombian opposition.

Melgar look very much like they are going to be one of those sides that gets results at home but struggles badly on the road. They were actually beaten at home last week by Sporting Cristal in Peru, their first home defeat in over a year and they’d lost just once in 42 matches in Arequipa prior to that.

Atletico Mineiro are better than most of the sides they’ve faced but they aren’t used to playing at altitude and have only won 1 of their last 7 away games in the Copa Libertadores. Therefore Melgar look very good here at 4/5 to at least avoid defeat in this match.

The Brazilians exited in the last 16 last year and aren’t really into the real serious part of their 2016 domestic season yet so fitness could be an issue even without the altitude issue and Melgar look good at 12/1 to pick up a 2-1 win.