São Paulo's Luis Zubeldía has stabilized his position as head coach after a narrow 1-0 victory over Talleres in the Copa Libertadores, easing the intense criticism that followed the team's elimination from the Paulistão at the hands of Palmeiras and a disappointing goalless draw against Sport in their Brasileirão opener. The upcoming challenge for Zubeldía's squad is a clash against Atlético-MG at the Mineirão in Belo Horizonte, set to kick off at 16:00 (Brasília time) on Sunday, April 6, 2025.
Despite the positive result in Argentina, Zubeldía acknowledges that his team still has room for improvement. "In the Copa Libertadores, it’s a bit of performance and a bit of effectiveness... We didn’t play a great match, but it’s still a victory," he stated after the match against Talleres.
However, the coach faces new challenges, particularly concerning São Paulo's key summer signing, Oscar. After missing the Brasileiro opener due to a left thigh injury, Oscar returned to action against Talleres but had to be substituted early in the second half due to renewed pain. Subsequent medical exams revealed another muscular injury in the same thigh, ruling him out of the upcoming match against Atlético-MG. Additionally, Lucas Moura, another key player, is recovering from a knee injury and will also miss the game.
With Oscar unavailable, Luciano is expected to step into the midfield for São Paulo. This matchup against Atlético-MG is crucial for both teams, as the Minas Gerais side has struggled to find form since winning the Campeonato Mineiro. They clinched the title with a 4-0 victory in the first leg against América, but suffered a 1-0 defeat in the return leg. Following this, Atlético-MG faced a disappointing 2-1 loss to Grêmio in their Brasileiro opener and a 0-0 draw against Cienciano in the Libertadores.
Despite the recent setbacks, Atlético-MG coach Cuca remains optimistic. "It’s the beginning of the season; if you play well, the results will come. We didn’t get it on Saturday, we didn’t get it today (Tuesday), but if we play like this on Sunday, it will come. We have a standard, a way of playing, we’re rotating the squad, and things are going well," he commented after the draw with Cienciano.
As for the upcoming clash, both teams are eager to secure their first win in the Campeonato Brasileiro. In their previous encounters, Atlético-MG lost 2-1 to Grêmio, while São Paulo was held to a 0-0 draw against Sport. The stakes are high, and the atmosphere is expected to be intense as both sides look to kickstart their campaigns.
On April 6, 2025, the match between Atlético-MG and São Paulo will take place at the Mineirão in Belo Horizonte. Fans can catch the action live on Globo (free-to-air) and Premiere (pay-per-view).
The probable lineup for Atlético-MG features Everson in goal, with Natanael, Lyanco, Alonso, and Arana in defense. The midfield will consist of Alan Franco, Gabriel Menino, and Gustavo Scarpa, while Rony, Hulk, and Cuello are expected to lead the attack. Cuca will be at the helm as they seek to turn their fortunes around.
São Paulo's expected lineup includes goalkeeper Rafael, with Ferraresi, Arboleda, Alan Franco, and Enzo Díaz forming the backline. Luiz Gustavo, Alisson, and Luciano will occupy the midfield, while Cédric Soares, Calleri, and Ferreirinha will spearhead the attack under coach Luis Zubeldía.
In a recent encounter, tensions flared when a goal from São Paulo's Alan Franco was disallowed by VAR after a controversial offside call. Franco had headed the ball into the net after a free kick, but the goal was ruled out, leading to protests from the São Paulo players and fans alike. Everson, the Atlético-MG goalkeeper, voiced his frustrations, arguing that the decision should have been made on the field rather than through VAR.
Fans took to social media to express their outrage over the incident, with many agreeing that VAR should serve as a supportive tool rather than directly intervening in on-field decisions. This incident has added an extra layer of intrigue to the upcoming match, as both teams look to assert their dominance in the league.
As the matchday approaches, the anticipation builds. Will São Paulo bounce back from their recent struggles, or will Atlético-MG find their footing after a rocky start? The outcome remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: both teams are desperate for a win, and the fans are in for an exciting showdown at the Mineirão.
