The top two heading into the weekend will commence battle on Sunday, with Palmeiras set to play host to Atletico Mineiro in a Brasileiro contest.
Palmeiras are currently enjoying a 14-game unbeaten run in all competitions, while the current Brazilian champions are looking to clinch a third consecutive league victory.
Match preview
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Reigning Copa Libertadores champions Palmeiras have started the season in impressive fashion, performing well in domestic and continental competition.
The Verdao secured their passage into the Copa Libertadores knockout stages by winning every group game, while they head into the weekend in top spot of their domestic league.
Their opening eight league games have yielded four victories and three draws, leaving Sunday's hosts with 15 points to their name.
Confidence will be sky high in the Palmeiras camp following a run of six consecutive victories in all competitions, including a 1-0 win over their bitter rivals Santos in their most recent outing.
An 80th-minute strike from Gustavo Gomez proved enough to guide Palmeiras to all three points in the Classico da Saudade, while the result extended their unbeaten run to seven league games.
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The early signs of the 2022 season suggest that Atletico Mineiro are well placed to defend their league title.
Cuca's departure due to personal reasons at the end of 2021 has not hindered Atletico Mineiro in the early stages of the current campaign, with new boss Antonio Mohamed enjoying a fine start to his reign.
After eight league games, Sunday's visitors have an identical record to their hosts, leaving them on 15 points alongside Palmeiras and Corinthians ahead of the weekend's round of fixtures.
Atletico Mineiro have the chance to claim a third consecutive victory on Sunday after beating Avai 2-1 in their last outing thanks to second-half strikes from Hulk and Eduardo Sasha.
Despite facing the champions of South America, the visitors will be confident that they can pick up a positive result after avoiding defeat in their last 11 competitive away games.
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Team News
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The hosts will be without the services of Mayke and Jailson, who are both ruled out due to injury issues.
Although, Palmeiras did receive a boost this week, with Luan, Gabriel Veron and Joaquin Piquerez all making their respective returns to training, and the trio are all expected to be involved in some capacity for Sunday's contest.
Rony, meanwhile, is expected to continue to lead the line for Palmeiras, with the forward looking to add to the three league goals that he has scored this season.
As for the visitors, Matias Zaracho and Eduardo Vargas are set to miss out due to muscle injuries, although Keno could feature on the bench after missing the last four matches.
Atletico Mineiro cannot call upon Guilherme Arana, who is currently on international duty with Brazil.
Following the 2-1 victory over Avai last weekend, Mohamed may be tempted to name an unchanged lineup for the Palmeiras encounter.
Palmeiras possible starting lineup:
Lomba; Rocha, Gomez, Cerqueira, Piquerez; Ze Rafael, Menino; Dudu, Veiga, Scarpa; Rony
Atletico Mineiro possible starting lineup:
Everson; Mariano, Rever, Alonso, Rubens; Fernandez, Jair, Otavio, Ademir; Hulk, Sasha
We say: Palmeiras 1-1 Atletico Mineiro
Nothing can separate the two sides after eight league games, and with Palmeiras and Atletico Mineiro so closely matched, we think that Sunday's contest will end all square.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
