Sport Recife will play host to Atletico-MG on Sunday, June 6 at Estádio Ilha do Retiro. These two never fail to produce exciting battles, which particularly holds true for games played in Recife, where we haven’t seen fewer than two goals once since 2006.
Sport Recife vs Atletico-MG
When: Sunday, June 6 – 20:30 BST
Where: Estádio Ilha do Retiro in Recife
Weather: Partly cloudy, 24°C
Referee: Raphael Claus
The last time Sport Recife and Atletico-MG played, we saw a total of five goals, and that’s nothing unusual, considering most of their previous meetings ended in plenty of goals. In fact, only two of their last 15 duels had fewer than two.
Both sides started the 2021 Serie A season in a goal-scoring mood. Sport Recife drew with Internacional in the first round 2-2, while Atletico Mineiro lost to Fortaleza 2-1. All of this promises an entertaining matchup tonight.
Sport Recife Conceding Too Many Goals at Home
Last season, Sport Recife conceded 23 goals at their stadium in Serie A, which was more than only four other teams that season. They were also somewhat inefficient scoring on their turf, with only 19 goals in 19 home matches.
On the bright side, Recife did very well in Campeonato Pernambucano this year, producing a goal in each game they played at home. Most of those goals happened curtesy of their forward, Mikael Filipe.
He scored four in that competition and is looking to improve his yield in Serie A. Since he started playing for Sport Recife’s first team, the 22-year-old has scored only one goal in Serie A.
Mikael Filipe is one of the younger players of Sport Recife, a team that’s relying on the experience of its star players – Thiago Neves (36) and Andre (30). The two scored a goal apiece in the first round against Internacional, and will likely play a big role tonight as well.
Atletico Mineiro looking to Bounce Back After a First-Round Loss
Atletico Mineiro finished third in Serie A last season, just three points short of the eventual champions, Flamengo RJ. They were fantastic in the final third, with 64 goals in 38 games, with five different players scoring five or more goals.
Alexi Stival’s men were expected to start the new season hot, but Fortaleza surprised everyone and beat them 2-1 in the first round. Nevertheless, Atletico Mineiro remain as one of the major title favourites, both due to their exceptional form last season and a big signing.
In January, Atletico Mineiro signed the former Brazil international, Hulk. Although he’s turning 35 this summer, he doesn’t seem to have plans to retire anytime soon. What he probably plans is to start scoring more. Across 11 2021 Campeonato Mineiro outings, Hulk scored only twice.
On the bright side, he started his Serie A quest with a goal against Fortaleza. The game with Sport Recife looks like an ideal opportunity for him to continue his scoring spree.
Sport Recife vs Atletico-MG Betting Picks
Atletico-MG are travelling to Recife bearing the role of the favourites. That’s understandable, knowing how well they played the last year, however, you can never underestimate Sport Recife at their home stadium, especially with their players’ ability to create chances and find the back of the net.
Recife scored against Atletico in each of their last seven meetings at Estádio Ilha do Retiro and have put together at least two goals in their previous two head-to-head bouts. The visitors, meanwhile, managed at least one goal at this stadium in all of their last nine visits, scoring two or more in six.
Rather than betting on the match-winner, a much better alternative is to focus on goals. It would be unusual and against the tradition, if we didn’t see at least two tonight!
Prediction: Over 2.00 Goals – 1.70 SBO
