Atlético Goianiense vs Cruzeiro Prediction: The Dragon seeks first league victory

Newly promoted Atlético Goianiense has yet to win. The Goiânia side has one game in hand but only picked up a point in its last meeting with Internacional in Porto Alegre. Still, that point against a strong opponent may have given the Goianos some confidence for this clash with Cruzeiro. The Miners also want to pick up points, and they will enter the field to win.

Atlético didn't play in the last round due to the cancellation of all matches involving teams from the state of Rio Grande do Sul, which is being heavily affected by floods. The date of the match with Juventude is still to be determined. The last game the Dragon played was in the Copa do Brasil at Brusque. Atlético Goianiense won the first leg 1-0 with a goal from Luiz Fernando in the 76th minute. The Goianos urgently need to win a match in the Brasileirão, and this one against Cruzeiro could be decisive in the team's immediate future. Another defeat will probably have an impact on the players' confidence. 

After three draws, the Miners won for the first time in the Copa Sudamericana. The 3-0 triumph against Alianza in Colombia allowed the Fox to climb to second place in group B. It was the second consecutive game with three goals scored, which is a good sign. Cruzeiro also had its match with Internacional canceled, so its last game in the Série A was in Round 4 when it beat Vitória 3-1. The Belo Horizonte side has seven points from four games and is in tenth place. If the Miners win in Goiânia, they could make a big move up the standings, as they are only three points off first place.

The home team has yet to win in the Série A and will be under pressure. Cruzeiro is in good momentum and secured a crucial win in the Copa Sudamericana. To win, Cruzeiro will have to overcome Atlético Goianiense and also the fatigue of the midweek international match. It's not a game with a clear favorite, which leads me to go for another type of bet. Considering the number of goals in Cruzeiro's matches, I will bet that both teams score.