(photo: Lucas Merçon/Fluminense and Alexandre Guzanshe/EM/DA Press)
The moment is excellent, but Atlético is still far from where it hopes to reach this season. Aiming to extend their unbeaten record under the command of Gabriel Milito and take the lead in Series A of the Brazilian Championship, Galo will face Fluminense this Saturday (4/5), starting at 4pm, at the Kleber José de Andrade Stadium, in Cariacica . Next, the On Attack brings all the details about the fifth round match: where to watch live, likely lineups, statements and much more.
Originally, the duel would be played at Maracanã, in Rio de Janeiro. The “Marvelous City”, however, will host two international events this Saturday, and security authorities have recommended that the clash between Fluminense and Atlético change location.
In the Brasileirão league table, four points separate the two teams. Tricolor Carioca is in 16th place, with four points, while Galo is in second place, with eight.
If Fluminense beats Fluminense in Espírito Santo, the Minas Gerais club will be at the top of Series A. The top of the table could become definitive for Atlético if Botafogo stumbles this Sunday (5/5), against Bahia, in Rio de Janeiro.
In the middle of the week, both teams won the Copa do Brasil. Gabriel Milito’s men beat Sport on Tuesday (30/4), 2-0, at Arena MRV. Those led by Fernando Diniz beat Sampaio Corrêa on Wednesday (1/5), 2-0, at Kleber Andrade.
Atlético clings to recent history
Atlético has good reasons to believe in a positive result against Fluminense. Starting with the fact that the opponent is one of striker Hulk’s “favorite victims” since his return to Brazil.
Wearing a black and white shirt, the Paraíba native scored seven goals in eight games against Tricolor das Laranjeiras. Alongside Cruzeiro, the Rio club is the biggest target of Galo’s “superhero” celebrations.
In recent retrospect of the confrontation, Atlético’s notable superiority. In the last five seasons (2019 to 2023), the teams faced each other 12 times, with six black and white victories, five draws and only one Flu triumph.
Fernando Diniz x Gabriel Milito
The clash between Fluminense and Atlético also marks the reunion between two of the coaches most adept at attacking football in Brazil: Fernando Diniz, from Tricolor, and Gabriel Milito, from Galo.
In 2023, the two faced each other in the round of 16 of the Copa Libertadores, when Milito was still managing Argentinos Juniors, from Argentina. In the first leg, a 1-1 draw in Buenos Aires. On the way back, Fluminense won 2-0 at Maracanã. The Rio team would go on to win the continental cup for the first time in history at the end of the season.
Last Wednesday, after Tricolor das Laranjeiras’ victory over Sampaio Corrêa, Diniz praised Galo and the Argentine coach. In the opinion of the Minas Gerais commander, the club “knew how to hire a great coach”.
Fluminense x Atlético: where to watch live
The duel for the fifth round of the Brazilian Championship will be broadcast exclusively via subscription service on closed TV (pay-per-view).
Fluminense x Atlético: probable lineups
O On Attack Below, we present the probable lineups for the clash for the Copa do Brasil. See also the absences of Fluminense and Atlético.
Fluminense
Fluminense counts on the important return of left-back Marcelo, who spent the week in Madrid to arrange the renewal of his son Enzo’s contract with Real Madrid. Preserved against Sampaio Corrêa, Paulo Henrique Ganso and Germán Cano should also return to the starting lineup.
Tricolor das Laranjeiras has a list with six absences due to injury. Decisive in 2023, striker John Kennedy remains sidelined due to an episode of indiscipline.
- Fluminense’s probable lineup: Fábio; Guga, Felipe Melo, Manoel (Felipe Andrade) and Marcelo (Diogo Barbosa); Lima, Martinelli and Ganso; Marquinhos, Arias and Germán Cano
- Hanging from Fluminense: Guga, André, Lima, Ganso and Marquinhos
- Fluminense absences: Marlon (injured), Thiago Santos (injured), Gabriel Pires (injured), André (injured), Keno (injured), Lelê (injured) and John Kennedy (removed due to indiscipline)
Athletic
Galo counts on the return of defender Jemerson, preserved in the team’s last two commitments. He should take the place of Bruno Fuchs, suspended due to expulsion, in the starting team.
Names with a longer run of games, such as right-back Renzo Saravia and midfielders Otávio and Alan Franco, can be spared. Atlético faces Rosario Central in Argentina, on Tuesday (7/5), in the group stage of the Copa Libertadores.
- Atlético’s probable lineup: Everson; Saravia (Mariano), Battaglia (Mauricio Lemos or Igor Rabello), Jemerson and Guilherme Arana; Otávio (Battaglia), Alan Franco (Battaglia), Zaracho and Gustavo Scarpa; Paulinho and Hulk
- Atlético’s Hanging: Mauricio Lemos and Alan Franco
- Atlético absences: Bruno Fuchs (suspended due to expulsion), Rubens (sprained left knee) and Paulo Vitor (torn ligaments in his left ankle)
Fluminense x Atlético: the characters
- Fernando Diniz, Fluminense coach: “The first thing is to respect your opponent a lot. We also really respect what we have to do to play a good match. They are an extremely tough opponent, who are going through an excellent moment, with excellent players and a great coach. They also knew how to hire a great technician. We know about Atlético’s combo. We will try to do our best.”
- Everson, Atlético goalkeeper: “Without a shadow of a doubt, it is a direct confrontation. Team that will definitely fight for the title. Current champion of America. We know how difficult it is to win the Libertadores title. With great players, with a great coach. So, we know that it is a direct confrontation, where we need to be focused, knowing our game tactics so that we can beat such a difficult opponent.”
Fluminense x Atlético: arbitration
- Referee: Raphael Claus (FIFA-SP)
- Assistants: Danilo Ricardo Simon Manis (FIFA-SP) and Luiz Alberto Andrini Nogueira (SP)
- VAR: Rodrigo Guarizo Ferreira do Amaral (FIFA-SP)
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