Athletico Paranaense vs Cuiabá Prediction: The Hurricane is the favorite for this match

Being a football coach is a tough job, especially in Brazil. Several clubs have changed their managers this year before the Brasileirão kick-off. Even before the end of the Campeonato Paranaense, coach Juan Carlos Osorio left Athletico. The Colombian lasted only two months in charge. The club replaced Osorio with Cuca, and the Hurricane won the following seven games. Athletico is the favorite to beat Cuiabá.

The Curitiba side lost its star player, Vitor Roque, but the signings made by the management have made the squad stronger. To replace the youngster who left for Barcelona for 40 million euros, Athletico signed Mastriani, who played for América-MG last year. The Uruguayan has adapted well and helped the team win the Campeonato Paranaense. In the Copa Sudamericana, the Paranaenses won easily both games they played. In the last one, the Hurricane beat Rayo Zuliano from Venezuela 6-0. The club's goal in this Brasileirão is to finish in the top six, which grants access to the Copa Libertadores. Against Cuiabá, Athletico must show its superiority.

The Dourado had a surprising campaign last year and, besides avoiding relegation, also managed to qualify for the Copa Sudamericana. Coach António Oliveira left for Corinthians, and Luiz Fernando Iubel, the assistant coach, took over. This season, the target is the same: to avoid relegation. Cuiabá is a modest club trying to stabilize itself in the Série A. The club won the Campeonato Mato-Grossense for the fourth time in a row, but the competitive level of the tournament is low. In the Copa Sudamericana, Cuiabá drew 1-1 at home to Lanús and beat Metroplitanos 2-0 in Venezuela. Picking up a point at the Ligga Arena would be an excellent way to start the Brasileirão.

Athletico has been winning and scoring many goals, so any result other than a home victory will be a surprise. Cuiabá collected many away points last season, but let's see if it can maintain that ability this year. I'm backing Athletico to win with a maximum of five goals scored in the match.