In Mineirão, teams give a start to the bi-championship
It’s time to find out who will be the champion of the 2021 Brazil Cup. At Mineirão, Atlético-MG and Atlético-PR will face off in a little while, at 5:30 pm (Brasilia time), for the first leg of the final.
Brazilian champion after 50 years, Atlético-MG has the chance to close 2021 as the biggest season in the club’s history, in case of a national knockout title. At home, Cuca’s team has 88% success in the year.
This is the third time that Atlético reach a final of the Copa do Brasil. In 2014 Tempo won its first title, when it won Cruzeiro. In 2016, Galo hit the trip and was defeated by Grêmio.
The miners didn’t report it with Nathan Silva, who already played in the Copa do Brasil for Atlético-GO, and most likely, Réver will be without conditions. Igor Rabello must be in the defense. In midfield, there is doubt whether Nacho starts or stays on the bench. If the Argentine is a starter, Diego Costa loses his place in the team. Zaracho is the only one hanging on the team.
Athletico also won a title of expression this season. Hurricane defeated Bragantino 1-0 and won the Copa Sudamericana, the second in history. In the Brazilian Championship, one team did not do well. Rubro-Negro even flirted with relegation and ended the competition only in 14th place. Time reaches the final of the Copa do Brasil as the only invitation to the tournament.
Like the opponent, the red-black of Paraná also reaches the final of the Copa do Brasil for the third time. The team was champion in 2019, when it beat Internacional and has a vice-championship in 2013, when it was defeated by Flamengo.
For the match soon, coach Alberto Valentim has only one doubt: Renato Kayzer, the top scorer of Hurricane this season (12 goals) and in the tournament (four goals), is still recovering from a sprained ankle and is not 100% . The striker trained as a starter for the first time in Athletico’s last activity before the match, this Saturday, and has a good chance of starting the match.
Athleitico has three players hanging for today’s game: Thiago Heleno, Erick and Nikão. The embezzlers are: Khellven (expelled against Flamengo), Carlos Eduardo (muscle injury), Bissoli (defended Cruzeiro in the competition), Lucas Halter (injury to his left foot) and Matheus Babi (injury to his knee). The last two only return in 2022.
