Union Santa Fe vs Atletico Mineiro Predictions

• Union have lost just 1 of their last 6 home games.
• Atletico Mineiro have lost just 1 of their last 7 away games, drawing 5 times in the process.
• Atletico are unbeaten thus far in 2020, drawing 2 of their 4 outings in the process.

Union looking to make home advantage count

After crashing out on penalties against eventual competition winners Independiente del Valle last season at this very stage of the Sudamericana, Argentines Union de Santa Fe are hoping for a more sustained run in it this time around. Nonetheless, the side have been handed a very tough draw and come into this tie with Atletico Mineiro as clear underdogs.

If Union are to have any real hope of advancing, they need to make home advantage count on Friday, as securing any kind of result in Belo Horizonte will be an extremely tough ask. Having lost just 1 of their last 6 home games, Union are certainly a strong outfit with their fans behind them and that does have them coming into the match with confidence high.

Atletico aiming for a positive result

Meanwhile, after a below-par campaign last year, Atletico Mineiro are looking to piece together a far more successful season this time around and the Copa Sudameircana forms a big part of that. As one of the favourites to go on and win the competition, Galo will be looking to avoid slipping up in this tie and focus has been on Friday’s game for quite some time.

Under new boss Rafael Dudamel, Atletico’s start to 2020 has been fairly solid but this is their first real test, having only played lower league opponents so far. Indeed, the side remain unbeaten this year, winning 2 of their 4 outings in the process but Friday’s game does represent a step up in difficulty and Dudamel will be hoping his players can respond. 

A close game is expected

Ultimately, although Atletico are favourites to advance over the two legs, Friday’s game should be a pretty even game. Atletico are the stronger of the two sides on paper in terms of man for man quality but Union are a tough nut to crack in Santa Fe and it won’t be an easy evening for the Brazilians.

All things considered, we see good value in backing a draw and find the two sides too difficult to separate. Union have lost just 1 of their last 6 home games, Atletico have lost just 1 of their last 7 away games and both sequences lead us to conclude that a 1-1 draw could well be on the cards.