Atletico MG vs Palmeiras Match Preview

Atletico MG is ranked at 7th place with 40 points and comes in a poor run after a single win two draws and two losses over the last five matches. It has been a season with ups and downs so far for them and with more than 2/3 of the season done they still are struggling to enter the Copa Libertadores zone.

They have scored 34 goals which is quite good but their defense has not matched that with 30 goals conceded. They failed to keep a clean sheet in four of the last five games. More problems for them since two of their key players Hulk and Zaracho are expected to miss because of injury. Hulk is their best scorer with 9 goals - 2 assists while Zaracho has 2 goals - 1 assist. That means they will be missing one-third of their total goals for this match.

Palmeiras, on the other hand, is ranked at 1st place with 57 points and comes in better form after two wins and three draws over the last five matches. They are the team with the fewest losses this season as they tasted defeat only twice and never on the road. In the league, they are unbeaten for the last ten duels collecting seven wins and three draws.

Unfortunately for them, they are out of the Copa Libertadores but that also means they can fully focus on the league now. They have an eight-point advantage from second-placed Internacional and will have to administer that with 11 weeks left to play. They will miss some important players too, as Gomez and Weverton are with their national teams while Ze Rafael and Danilo are suspended.

In conclusion, I think Palmeiras can manage to win or draw this game. They are the better team and considering all missings for both sides I guess it will be a tight and balanced duel between them. Palmeiras has the best defensive side in the league and I find it hard for Atletico MG to punish them since they will miss their best striker Hulk and midfielder Zaracho.