Title-chasing Atletico Mineiro continue their quest for Brasileiro glory on Sunday, as they meet mid-table Juventude at Estadio Alfredo Jaconi.
Having won seven league games on the spin - and dramatically progressed in the Copa Libertadores - the visitors are in scintillating form and will expect to return to Belo Horizonte with maximum points.
Match preview
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Stretching their winning run to seven Serie A matches last Sunday, Atletico Mineiro's home win over Athletico Paranaense still sees them one point adrift of Palmeiras at the top of the standings, having won ten of their 14 fixtures to date.
Cuca's side have risen to second spot, surpassing last week's visitors in the process, and are seemingly set to mount a strong title challenge this year.
As the unstoppable Alvinegro accumulated victories against Cuiaba, Flamengo, Corinthians and America Mineiro - before defeating Boca Juniors in a penalty shootout to advance to the last eight of the Copa Libertadores - a talented team are full of confidence before the trip to Caxias do Sul.
Most recently, they posted back-to-back wins over Bahia in league and cup, before suffering their first loss since the end of June, when they were beaten in the return leg of their Copa do Brasil tie. However, the Belo Horizonte-based outfit still progressed to the quarter-finals on aggregate; rendering Bahia's brief taste of revenge irrelevant in the final analysis.
Having left behind a sluggish start to the season, it is unlikely Cuca and company will rest until they reach the Serie A summit, and after taking on a depleted Juventude side on Sunday, Atletico will then travel to meet another Argentinian giant in midweek - when they clash with River Plate at El Monumental in their Copa Libertadores last-eight tie.
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Not only are promoted Juventude already considered outsiders ahead of Atletico's visit this week, but coach Marquinhos Santos will need to solve a significant selection puzzle in order to field a competitive team.
With a growing series of COVID-19 cases in the camp and contractual clauses affecting the availability of others, the Juve supremo has had to summon youth players to the top-flight new boys' training base during the build up.
The side from Rio Grande do Sul at least ended their four-game winless run last time out, as they overturned fellow Serie B graduates Chapecoense through Matheus Peixoto's early goal, despite surrendering two-thirds of possession.
After a 13-year absence from the top division, Juventude have made Estadio Alfredo Jaconi a stronghold this term. As they attempt to prolong their stay among the elite, they are now unbeaten in their last five league matches there and currently sit 13th in the table, above several bigger clubs.
They have struggled in the final third all season long, though, scoring just nine times in their 13 matches so far, while Sunday's opponents are fairly frugal at the back - conceding just ten league goals and shutting out Boca entirely over the course of two intense legs.
Therefore, a repeat of the result last time these clubs met - back in 2016, when Atletico were defeated 1-0 in the cup (though ultimately progressed on penalties) - would be a dream scenario for Marquinhos Santos and his young side.
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Team News
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Atletico Mineiro remain without several players through injury, with Rafael (dislocated shoulder), Marrony (knee) and Keno (thigh) all expected to continue spells on the sidelines, while Chile striker Eduardo Vargas must serve a suspension after being sent off in the dying minutes last weekend.
However, Guilherme Arana could be back in contention, as he has returned from international duty in Tokyo, with the Brazilian Olympic squad.
In the absence of Vargas, well-travelled forward Hulk will continue to lead the visitors' attack - having previously posted six goals and four assists this season - with the former Porto man set to be joined by Jefferson Savarino and Matias Zaracho up front.
Juventude are struggling with a lengthening list of absentees, meanwhile, as they will not be able to count on defender Vitor Mendes and midfield pair of Guilherme Castilho and Bruninho, as Atletico is their parent club.
In addition to his on-loan trio, coach Marquinhos Santos has been severely hampered by an outbreak of COVID-19 in the camp. To date, six players have returned a positive test for the virus: wingers Michel Macedo and William Matheus, midfield duo Elton and Jadson, plus Wagner and first-choice centre-back Rafael Forster.
While Forster and Macedo could yet make the lineup if they test negative before the game, Santos has his hands full to improvise a starting XI for Sunday.
Star striker Matheus Peixoto is fit to play, though, and leads the line with seven goals so far - five of which have come on home soil.
Juventude possible starting lineup:
Carne; Henrique, Didi, Cleberson, Alysson; Dawhan, Ricardinho, Jesus, Wescley; Paulinho, Roberson
Atletico Mineiro possible starting lineup:
Everson; Mariano, Nathan, Alonso, Dodo; Allan, Fernandez, Tche Tche; Savarino, Hulk, Zaracho
We say: Juventude 0-2 Atletico Mineiro
While Juventude have found a means of keeping things tight and picking up the occasional win through the finishing of Matheus Peixoto, they are stepping up in class this weekend - with Atletico more than capable of breaching their back line on several occasions.
With their recent cup defeat only a blip on the radar - as progress was sealed in any case - the Alvinegro's soaring confidence should see them past a home side who are troubled by a number of missing men.
Top tip
Jonathan O'Shea
Data Analysis
Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Atletico Mineiro win with a probability of 50.68%. A draw had a probability of 27.3% and a win for Juventude had a probability of 21.97%.
The most likely scoreline for an Atletico Mineiro win was 0-1 with a probability of 15.15%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 0-2 (10.64%) and 1-2 (8.75%). The likeliest drawn scoreline was 1-1 (12.45%), while for a Juventude win it was 1-0 (8.87%). The actual scoreline of 1-2 was predicted with an 8.7% likelihood. Our data analysis correctly predicted that Atletico Mineiro would win this match.
