São Paulo and Atlético-MG face each other this Tuesday, at 21:30 (GMT), at Morumbi, for the 35th round of the Brazilian Championship. The duel is a straight fight for the Brazilian’s G-8. Atlético-MG is ahead, with 51 points, in seventh position, while São Paulo has one point less and is eighth.
After serving suspension, Pablo Maia should return to the team in the spot of first steering wheel. Moreira’s injury, who will have to operate on his knee, should force coach Rogégio Ceni to change the team’s formation, as he only has one right-back available, the veteran Rafinha. The coach can opt for the entry of a defender, probably Ferraresi, to maintain the scheme with three defenders, or reinforce the midfield.
Atletico will not have Nacho Fernández, suspended for the third yellow card. For the vacancy, Zaracho is the most quoted to be the replacement. There is also doubt in the attack, if the coach will keep Pavón, starter in the last match, or return with Ademir. Sasha and Keno, who left with pain in the game against Juventude, trained normally throughout the week. Striker Alan Kardec, who had been used throughout the games, was banned due to back pain.
Analysis:
In the last 10 home matches for the championship, São Paulo has recorded four wins, three draws and three defeats, having won 15 points out of 30 possible. In the matches played in Morumbi, for the Campeonato Brasileiro, the most frequent result at the end of the first 45′ was the 1‑0, which occurred in six of the 17 matches. Defensive consistency hasn’t been their strong point, as they have conceded goals in seven of the last 10 matches, but their offense has scored consistently, as they have scored goals in eight of the last 10 matches for this competition. In 34 matches for this competition, they have conceded the first goal 15 times and have only turned the score around twice.
Atletico, on the other hand, in the last 10 away matches for the championship, has recorded four wins, three draws and three defeats, having won 15 points out of 30 possible. In their away league matches, the most frequent result at half-time was 0‑0 (9 out of 17 matches). In their away matches for this competition there is a tendency for few goals, since in 12 of the last 17 they have played there have been less than 3 goals. In 34 matches for this competition, they have only turned the score around twice in the 10 matches in which they have conceded the first goal. There are 1 periods that stand out in the last 17 away matches for this competition: they have scored six of their 17 goals between minutes (46’‑60′).
