(photo: Pedro Souza/Atlético)
Atlético may have a different lineup to face Cuiabá this Saturday (27/4), at 6:30 pm, at Arena Pantanal, in Cuiabá, in the fourth round of the Brazilian Championship. See below the likely teams and absences for each club.
Cuiabá’s probable lineup
Cuiabá is coming off a 1-1 draw with Desportivo Garcilaso-PER, at the Garcilaso de la Vega Stadium, in Cusco, Peru, in the third round of the Copa Sudamericana. In Series A, Dourado has not yet won and is in last place, with no points gained in two games.
Absent in the last game, Alan Empereur recovered from a blow to the head and is expected to start the match against Atlético. Left-back Ramon is also available to coach Luiz Fernando Iubel, but will be a reserve.
Striker Deyverson could also return to the starting lineup, but will compete for position with Pitta. The player was removed from two games for “disciplinary reasons”, but participated in the team’s last training sessions normally.
Midfielders Filipe Augusto and Lucas Mineiro, both with muscle pain, and midfielder Max, who is dealing with a muscle injury in his right thigh, are still missing.
As a result, Cuiabá’s likely lineup includes Walter; Matheus Alexandre, Marllon, Bruno Alves, Alan Empereur and Rikelme; Denilson and Fernando Sobral; Cafú, Clayson and Pitta (Deyverson).
Atlético’s probable lineup
Atlético has only two absences for the clash. Midfielder Paulo Vitor and left-back Rubens continue to recover from serious injuries to their left ankle and left knee, respectively.
Despite this, the tendency is for a very changed team. Coach Gabriel Milito admitted that there is a need to rest some athletes after Galo’s 3-2 victory over Peñarol, on Tuesday, at Arena MRV, in the Copa Libertadores.
“We will have to analyze deeply to decide the next game. Who will be the best players to be able to play? The effort this team makes is huge, and the Brazilian football calendar does not exist anywhere in South America and almost nowhere in the world. But these players are used to playing, playing and playing. These are players who have the habit, as this happens every season.”
Gabriel Milito, Atlético coach
Against Cuiabá, the players most likely to be spared are, naturally, those with the highest minutes – with the exception of goalkeeper Everson. In a hypothetical scenario, pieces such as Arana, Saravia, Paulinho, Hulk and Jemerson can be preserved.
Atlético does not have an immediate reserve at left-back, which leaves doubt as to who Arana’s possible replacement would be. The biggest possibility is that Gustavo Scarpa will play in the sector, and Alisson will enter as a right winger, in the role of midfielder.
As a result, Atlético’s likely lineup includes Everson; Mariano (Saravia), Battaglia, Jemerson (Mauricio Lemos) and Guilherme Arana (Bruno Fuchs or Alisson); Otávio, Alan Franco, Gustavo Scarpa and Zaracho; Paulinho (Cadu) and Vargas (Hulk).
Galo is seventh in the Brazilian championship table, with five points.
