Mineiro still unstoppable?
The first leg of this year’s Copa Libertadores semi-final will be an all-Brazilian clash between Palmeiras and Atletico Mineiro The home side are the defending champions and last won the most important club competition in South America last year – for the second time in their history after 1999.
The visitors, on the other hand, arrive as the leaders in the Campeonato Brasileiro and have had a very successful season so far. However, Verdao are placed just behind the Belo Horizonte side in Serie A and are therefore also doing very well in the championship race.
For the match at Allianz Parque between Palmeiras and Atletico Mineiro, betting on the double chance in favour of the visitors seems profitable.
Brazil Palmeiras – Statistics & current form
The kickers from Sao Paulo only finished seventh in the domestic Serie A last season, but at the same time proved their high quality as a cup team. Not only did they win the Copa Libertadores, but also the Copa do Brasil.
Coach Abel Fernando Moreira Ferreira now wants to repeat last year’s success with his team in the 62nd edition of the Copa Libertadores. A feat last achieved by Boca Juniors 20 years ago. Palmeiras were again strong in the group stage, scoring 20 goals in six games, the best attacking record of any team in the competition.
They went on to beat Chile’s CD Universidad Catolica twice and then knocked out a league rival, Sao Paulo FC, in the following round. Rony has been particularly impressive offensively. The striker has already scored six goals in the ongoing Copa Libertadores, giving him the fourth best record in the goalscoring charts.
Verdao losing ground in Serie A
However, Palmeiras suffered a setback in Serie A on the penultimate matchday: in the top match against the reigning champions Flamengo, they suffered a 3-1 defeat on their own ground. The defeat was all the more painful as Mengao were without several regular players such as “Gabigol” – currently the top scorer in the Copa Libertadores.
On the other hand, the defeat was part of a long-lasting downward trend: Only two of the last seven league games were won and more than half were lost (2-1-4)!
Defence does not look secure
This is where the defence in particular has slackened off for the record champions. Only in two of the past eight competitive matches has it been able to show a clean sheet Against this backdrop, the odds on the visitors scoring more than one goal in the match between Palmeiras and Atletico Mineiro are also associated with value. At Unibet, they are available at 3.30.
The dress rehearsal against Chapecoense last weekend was again completed with a 2-0 victory. However, this was nothing more than a compulsory task, as the opponents, who are bottom of the table, are currently only reliable suppliers of points for their respective opponents.
Predicted line-up of Palmeiras:
Weverton – Gomez – Piquerez – Luan – Rocha – Danilo – Ze Rafael – Ribeiro Silva – Veiga – Dudu – Rony
Last matches played by Palmeiras:
Brazil Atletico Mineiro – Statistics & current form
The Black and Whites have only won the Copa Libertadores once before. In 2013, they won the final of that year’s edition in a highly dramatic penalty shootout against the Club Olimpia side from Asunción, the capital of Paraguay. In the current competition, the two Argentinian heavyweights in the shape of Boca Juniors and River Plate have already been eliminated.
Coach Cuca’s team was convincing away from home. Neither in the play-offs nor in the group phase did they lose any of their matches away from home. Instead, the away record shows three wins and two draws. “Galo” is also, as described, very strong on the road in the domestic Serie A.
Is the dry spell of half a century coming to an end this season?
After just 20 rounds of matches, first place is taken and Atletico Mineiro fans have long been dreaming of a second title in the club’s history. Moreover, the only win so far was 50 years ago! The showpiece of the Cuca team is undoubtedly the defence.
No team in the Brazilian top flight concedes fewer goals and in the Copa Libertadores the defensive strength was equally evident. Neither Boca Juniors nor River Plate scored in their two games against the Brazilians!
Hulk hasn’t had enough
In addition, Atletico-MG can rely on Hulk in the offensive. The oldie has already scored no less than seven goals in the Copa Libertadores – only Gabriel Barbosa of Flamengo tops the impressive output of the 35-year-old. Hulk also struck last weekend in Serie A with a goal against Recife.
In light of his recent scoring prowess, betting on another goal from him at Palmeiras against Atletico Mineiro is a good idea.
Predicted line-up of Atletico Mineiro:
Everson – Nathan – Mariano – Alonso – Arana – Jair – Allan – Fernandez – Vargas – Zaracho – Hulk
Last matches played by Atletico Mineiro:
Palmeiras – Atletico Mineiro Direct comparison / H2H record
The last time the Green-Whites and CAM faced each other was about a month ago. On that occasion, Palmeiras suffered a 2-0 defeat. Verdao were also defeated by the same scoreline in their penultimate meeting.
Despite the two defeats, the balance of the recent past is slightly in favour of the home side: In a review of the past ten matches between the two clubs, the Sao Paulo footballers have a narrow lead with three wins and two defeats, as well as five draws.
For the next meeting between Palmeiras and Atletico Mineiro, the odds are evenly distributed.
Brazil Palmeiras – Atletico Mineiro Brazil betting tips
Palmeiras are the defending champions but are currently in a less than consistent form. In the domestic Serie A, the Sao Paulo side has lost a lot of ground compared to their upcoming opponents, who occupy first place in the Serie A table.
In the clash between Palmeiras and Atletico Mineiro, the betting therefore suggests that the visitors will either win or at least draw Coach Cuca’s team is currently having its best season in many years. Even winning the title for the first time in half a century is possible in the Campeonato Brasileiro’s league competition
The visitors also impress with a very secure defence, which Boca Juniors and River Plate have already cut their teeth on recently. Mineiro have conceded just three goals in their ten games in the competition so far and have collected no fewer than seven clean sheets!
The Belo Horizonte side are also strong away from home, having not lost any of their five Copa Libertadores matches away from home (3-2-0), and no other Serie A club has taken as many points away from home as CAM. Bwin offers odds of 1.48 on the match between Palmeiras and Atletico Mineiro.
