Atletico Mineiro vs Coritiba
FreeNeed outright wins instead of value picks? Click here for strike rate and other consultancy details.
We’re always looking for new recruits to help us so please click here if you want to join the team although please don’t bother if you’re lazy!
There are 5 tips in the Members Section today so feel free to sign up here to see them!
Today’s secondary featured game is the Brazilian Serie A game between Atletico Mineiro and Coritiba.
Atletico Mineiro may be missing regular striker Danilinho and midfielder Pierre for this game but the moneybags have prepared plenty of attacking talent for this side pre-season and thus I doubt they’ll feel those absences today, especially against one of the weakest defensive sides in Brazil. Atletico Mineiro still have the ageless Ronaldinho to dominate proceedings and powerful striker Jo to finish the chances so you already get the impression that Atletico Mineiro are a threat here. Both Bernard and Escudero have played well this season too, not to mention their goals contribution from midfield. I don’t like their methods as buying a team is something that’s never sat well with me but I respect the fact that they’re a very good goalscoring side and I fully expect them to continue scoring goals today against a side that cannot defend and will not defend. Atletico Mineiro have scored at least two goals in each of their last four home games and I would be surprised to see that record fall apart here.
I like Coritiba more than I should because I admire the way that they play football. They don’t have the biggest budget or the best player but this side is very good at attacking and taking their chances. They’re very quick on counter-attacks and the fact that they’ve only failed to score in one away game this season speaks volumes about their spirit and playing style, especially with sides such as Santos and Sao Paulo having been given a good game by plucky Coritiba. Now for the bad news, though – this side has only kept two clean sheets this season and both of those games were at home. Coritiba have a horrible record on the road when it comes to conceding goals, shipping a minimum of two goals per away game for every away game this season. That doesn’t bode well against a very strong attacking side, does it? Regular defender Ayrton is out, as is regular midfielder Chico. Defensively, they’ve not a chance of keeping a clean sheet in this game, realistically speaking. However, with Robinho and Everton Costa in attack, this side has the potential to score goals and Atletico Mineiro are far from invulnerable at the back.
Although I fancy a heavy home win here, I’d much prefer to take over 3 goals at 11/10 with both sides specialising in attacking and scoring goals.
Verdict: Over 3 goals at 11/10.
Thursday’s Picks
As ever, if there are any explanations required then please feel free to post a comment! For the remainder of my thoughts on today’s games, see below, although I feel compelled to write that the below are not necessarily my tips but merely my thoughts to prevent endless questions about my thoughts on certain games!
UEFA Europa League Qualifiers:
Omonia Nicosia vs Red Star Belgrade (7) 1-0
Dinamo Moscow vs Dundee United (7) over 2.5 goals
Elfsborg Boras vs AC Horsens (5) 1-1
Aktobe Lento vs Racing Genk (5) 2-2
Slaven Koprivnica vs Athletic Club de Bilbao (7) 1-2
Aalesund FK vs APOEL Nicosia (6) 0-0
Legia Warsaw vs SV Ried (5) 2-1
Rosenborg BK vs Servette (4) 2-2
Metalurg Donetsk vs Tromso (7) 2-0
Mlada Boleslav vs Twente Enschede (5) 1-1
Anorthosis Famagusta vs Dila Gori (7) 2-1
Young Boys Bern vs Kalmar FF (7) 2-0
AA Gent vs Fehervar (5) 1-1
Spartak Trnava vs Steaua Bucharest (5) 1-1
Lech Poznan vs AIK Solna (5) 1-1
Viktoria Plzen vs Ruch Chorzow (7) 2-0
Vitesse Arnhem vs Anzhi Makhachkala (5) 1-1
Zeta Golubovci vs FK Sarajevo (6) 1-1
Mura 05 vs Arsenal Kiev (5) 1-2
Sparta Prague vs Admira Wacker (7) 1-0
PAOK Salonika vs Bnei Yehuda Tel-Aviv (7) 1-0
Bursaspor vs KuPS Kuopio (7) 2-0
Rapid Bucharest vs Heerenveen (5) 1-2
Hannover 96 vs St.Patrick’s Athletic (8) 2-0
Internazionale vs Hajduk Split (8) 2-1
Olympique de Marseille vs Eskisehirspor (6) 1-0
Maritimo Funchal vs Asteras Tripolis (7) 1-0
Liverpool vs Gomel (7) 2-0
Rapid Vienna vs Vojvodina Novi Sad (6) 2-1
Copa Sudamericana:
Oriente Petrolero vs Guarani Asuncion (6) 1-0
Universidad Catolica vs Blooming La Paz (7) 2-0, at least one red card in this game
Mineros de Guayana vs La Equidad Bogota (5) 1-1
Brazilian Serie A:
Fluminense vs Sao Paulo (7) 2-0
Atletico Mineiro vs Coritiba (8) over 2.5 goals
Ponte Preta vs Gremio (6) 1-2
Finnish Ykkonen:
HiFK Helsinki vs KooTeePee Kotka (5)
PK-35 Helsinki vs Hameenlinna (7)
Enjoy your free betting tips!