After extending their winless streak to five games with a derby draw last week, Atletico Mineiro aim for an overdue success when Corinthians visit Mineirao on Saturday.
Atletico were held by local rivals America Mineiro last time out in the Campeonato Brasileiro, days before their Sao Paulo counterparts then lost to America in the cup.
Match preview
© Reuters
With a two-goal lead heading towards the final half-hour of last week's Minas Gerais derby, Atletico Mineiro let victory slip from their grasp; conceding twice during the second half - after Matias Zaracho and veteran striker Hulk had struck earlier on - saw them settle for a 2-2 draw against old foes America.
To add insult to injury, Hulk was then sent off in stoppage time and coach Luiz Felipe Scolari was later reprimanded for his protests after the match.
All of which continues a slow start for the ex-Brazil boss in the Atletico hotseat: since coming under the command of Scolari midway through last month, his new team remain without a win.
A recent 1-1 draw against Paraguay's Libertad at least secured Galo's place in the knockout phase of the Copa Libertadores - something the Belo Horizonte club have now achieved eight times in the past decade.
However, they have slipped to 10th place in the Serie A standings as a result of their slump, and adding to a modest tally of two home wins in this year's Brasileiro will be upmost in the mind of Scolari and co this weekend.
© Reuters
Just a month after their second-leg fightback and subsequent penalty shootout success, Corinthians will reconvene with the team they eliminated from the Copa do Brasil's last 16.
The Alvinegro's most recent visit to Mineirao may have ended in a 2-0 defeat, but they recovered their losses back on home soil to book a place in the cup quarter-finals at Atletico's expense.
However, this week, Vanderlei Luxemburgo's men slumped to a 1-0 first-leg loss, as Serie A strugglers America beat them 1-0 on Wednesday. Following two months at the helm, Luxemburgo has now won only four of 17 matches all told.
Ahead of the second leg in Sao Paulo, Corinthians must re-focus on rectifying their lowly Brasileiro standing - they occupy 16th place in the table and are just a point above the drop zone - plus progressing in the Copa Sudamericana.
Having now suffered a fifth defeat from their last eight matches, they are yet to claw their way back from going behind this year - including last week's league loss to Bragantino - so surely cannot afford to start slowly on Saturday.
Team News
© Reuters
Both Atletico Mineiro coach Luiz Felipe Scolari and his star striker Hulk will be suspended this weekend, after losing their heads at the end of last week's derby defeat.
Alan Kardec - who averages around a goal every 90 minutes played for the club - recently returned to fitness after his long absence due to a back injury, so he will compete with Paulinho and Chile's Eduardo Vargas to replace Hulk up front.
Midfielder Hyoran remains sidelined by an ankle ligament tear, with Bruno Fuchs (thigh) also unavailable; Argentinian full-back Renzo Saravia is back in action after a ban.
Corinthians, meanwhile, will be without forward duo Chrystian Barletta and Angel Romero on Saturday, due to injury.
Under-fire boss Vanderlei Luxemburgo may make a number of changes from the side which started in midweek, so Biro and Matheus Araujo are likely to return to the visitors' XI.
Roger Guedes is set to keep his place, though, as the Alvinegro's top Brasileiro scorer this season on five goals.
Atletico Mineiro possible starting lineup:
Everson; Saravia, Lemos, Jemerson, Arana; Battaglia, Gomes; Pavon, Paulinho, Zaracho; Vargas
Corinthians possible starting lineup:
Cassio; Fagner, Gil, Murillo, Santos; Oliveira, Moscardo, Maycon; Biro, Alberto, Guedes
We say: Atletico Mineiro 1-0 Corinthians
The perfect chance to end a drought could present itself to Atletico Mineiro this week - despite being without two key men. Just one win and six losses away from home sums up the struggles Corinthians have endured outside of Sao Paulo, and that trend should continue at Mineirao.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Jonathan O'Shea
