Aiming to secure back-to-back league successes for the first time in 2024, newly-promoted Vitoria will welcome Atletico Mineiro to Estadio Manoel Barradas on Thursday evening for a Brasileiro clash.
The Black and Red managed to earn their maiden win of the term last time out versus Internacional, whilst the Roosters were thrashed by Brazilian giants Palmeiras on home soil.
Match preview
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At the ninth attempt, Vitoria finally sealed their maiden maximum points of the 2024 Brasileiro campaign on Sunday night, when the hosts at Estadio Manoel Barradas fought back admirably from a sizeable setback and proved that they can compete at the top level of Brazilian football.
Scoring in successive matches - and now having netted three times in the last six - midfielder Willian opened the account for the contest before substitute Wesley equalised for International in the second period, but it was the Red and Black who enjoyed the last laugh, with centre-back Wagner Leonardo holding his nerve from the penalty spot in the 103rd minute.
Now with three goals during the opening eight games of the 2024 Brasileiro season, 31-year-old Willian has really stepped up to the goalscoring plate for Thursday's hosts, especially considering that the former Cruzeiro man had never netted more than three times in a campaign before.
After a much-needed three points on the weekend, Vitoria's chances of avoiding an immediate return to the second tier are looking significantly higher, with the Red and Black just a single point behind 16th-placed Corinthians, although Thiago Carpini's troops remain bottom of the division.
Due to Vitoria's prolonged spell in the lower leagues of Brazil, you have to go back to August 2018 for the last time these two sides locked horns in a competitive fixture, with a solitary strike from 29-year-old Leo sealing a one-goal success over Atletico Mineiro.
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After collecting four points from two Brasileiro matches at the start of their June schedule, Atletico Mineiro suffered their first loss of the league campaign in 2024, with Brazilian giants Palmeiras rocking up at Arena MRV and escaping with a comfortable four-goal success.
Anibal Moreno opened the scoring for the visitors after 25 minutes and things soon got worse for the Rooster just six minutes later as Hulk was shown two yellow cards, and with a man disadvantage, the hosts would go on to concede three further strikes via Joaquin Piquerez, Estevao and Jose Lopez.
Despite a disappointing result on home turf last time out, Gabriel Milito's start to life in charge of Atletico Mineiro has been nothing short of sensational, with the 43-year-old winning 10 and losing just two of his opening 17 matches across all competitions since joining in March.
Alongside the aforementioned Palmeiras, the Rooster are the only outfit in the Brasileiro who are yet to taste defeat on their travels during the 2024 campaign, with Thursday's visitors earning eight points from four matches on the road to date.
Having lost just one of their first eight contests this season, Atletico Mineiro sit ninth in the top-flight standings, two points behind sixth-placed Sao Paulo and a comforting seven points ahead of relegation-threatened Gremio in 17th.
Team News
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After picking up a yellow card in the win over Internacional, Willean Lepo will be unavailable for Vitoria on Thursday evening against Atletico Mineiro.
The hosts are also unable to call upon the talents of central midfielder Rodrigo Andrade, who suffered a calf injury in May and is not expected back until the end of this month.
Bruno Uvini remains on the sidelines for the Red and Black, with winger Daniel joining his teammate in the club's medical room.
Atletico Mineiro have lost a number of first-team stars to international duty this month, including joint-leading goalscorer Eduardo Vargas and left-back Guilherme Arana, who is on duty with Brazil at the Copa America.
Receiving their marching orders last time out, both Hulk and 23-year-old Paulinho will be unable to feature on the road for the Rooster on Thursday.
Vitoria possible starting lineup:
Arcanjo; Calmon, Camutanga, Leonardo, Esteves; Santos, Willian, Leo; Matheusinho, Osvaldo, Alerrandro
Atletico Mineiro possible starting lineup:
Mendes; Fuchs, Rabello, Romulo; Saravia, Gomes, Zaracho, Scarpa; Kardec, Palacios, Amaral
We say: Vitoria 1-2 Atletico Mineiro
After earning their first league success of the term on the weekend, Vitoria should be relatively confident of repeating the trick on Thursday.
That being said, the challenge of Atletico Mineiro is set to be a stern one, and even without a number of key stars, the visitors should have enough to secure three points.
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