Atletico Mineiro vs Chapecoense Predictions, Betting Tips and Match Previews

Saturday’s Brazilian Serie A action sees Atletico Mineiro playing host to Chapecoense. With the visitors set to bring a defensive game plan, a tight game is expected to be in order.

Atletico had made a flying start to the new Serie A campaign, picking up 13 points from their first 6 games, but back-to-back defeats over the last week have put something of a dampener on Galo’s strong start.

Whilst they only lost to single goal margins at home to Flamengo and away to Sport Recife respectively, said results have seen the side fall down to 8th in the standings, a position they’ll be looking to improve upon here, with league action the only thing left to focus on for Thiago Largi’s men after crashing out of the Copa Sudamericana and Brazilian Cup earlier on in the year; the latter exit coming against Chapecoense themselves on penalties after a set of 0-0 draws.

Meanwhile, we can already ascertain two things as far as Chapecoense are concerned; the first of which being it’s going to be a long year and the second that most of their points are going to come on home soil. Gilson Kleina’s men were expected to be in a scrap against relegation and for as long as they remain so weak on the road, that prediction will look like coming true, with the side hovering above the drop zone after taking 9 points from 8 games.

As mentioned, Chape are really struggling on the road and just 1 of their points have came on their travels. All in all, Verdão are 7 matches without victory on enemy territory and they’ve also failed to as much as even find the net in 3 of their last 4 trips, leaving their prospects looking bleak coming into this match.

Ultimately, a low scoring Atletico win looks the most likely outcome and thus we’re more than happy to have plays on the under 2.5 goal line, as well as a home win to nil. Both legs of the cup tie between the two were very tight and little change is expected this time around, with Chape set to put men behind the ball.

Nonetheless, Atletico should be able to edge it. Man for man they are the stronger side and have enough going forward to eventually break a Chape side showing little resolve on the road down. Atletico’s last 5 home games have seen just 3 goals scored and this could well be another single goal affair, with a 1-0 margin of home victory on the cards.

Atletico Mineiro possible starting XI: Victor; Emerson, Bremer, Gabriel. Santos; Blanco, Elias, Luan, Cazares, Guedes; Oliveira.

Chapecoense possible starting XI: Jandrei; Apodi, Douglas, Thyere, Pacheco; Araujo, Elicarlos, Canteros, Arthur, Guilherme; Pereira.