Atlético Mineiro vs Criciúma - 17/04/24 | Fast live stats

Atlético Mineiro vs Criciúma Prediction & Preview

Preview

As the Brazilian Serie A heats up, Atlético Mineiro is set to host Criciúma in what promises to be a riveting encounter on Wednesday 17th April at Estádio Raimundo Sampaio. With both teams having kicked off their campaigns with a draw, they're eager to clinch their first win of the season in this early-stage clash.

Under the guidance of Gabriel Alejandro Milito, Atlético Mineiro finds themselves at 12th place, just a notch below Criciúma who are currently positioned 11th thanks to goal difference; both teams have secured 1 point from their opening matches. This match-up presents an opportunity for either side to break away from the midfield pack and set an early precedent for their season's ambitions.

Atlético Mineiro comes into this game following a resilient display against Corinthians away from home that ended in a goalless draw. Their offensive prowess has been notable with an average of 2 goals per game, which spikes even higher when playing in front of their home crowd, boasting an average of 2.25 goals per match at Estádio Raimundo Sampaio. However, they will need to be wary of their defensive duties as they look to improve upon conceding an average of 0.8 goals per game.

Criciúma, under Cláudio Tencati's stewardship, will aim to build on their performance that saw them secure a draw against Juventude with the match ending 1-1 at Estádio Heriberto Hülse. The team has demonstrated decent scoring ability averaging 1.3 goals per game and maintaining consistency on the road with an average scoreline mirroring those results when playing away.

Both sides have shown similar form coming into this fixture with identical records in recent outings—securing draws without losses or wins—which sets the stage for what could potentially be a closely contested battle as neither team looks eager to drop points so early in the season.

Bet

Given Atlético Mineiro's strong offensive record especially when playing at home—averaging more than two goals per game—and considering Criciúma’s struggle to keep clean sheets away from home (conceding on average one goal per game), betting enthusiasts might find value in backing over 2.5_goals. The odds stand attractively at 1.85, hinting not only at likely returns but also reflecting bookmakers' expectations for a match rich in scoring opportunities given both teams’ tendencies towards high-scoring affairs.