Atlanta United made it four in a row for FTV previews , they led 2-0 inside 19 minutes and by three by the break.
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Brazil: Serie A: Corinthians- Sport Recife
It seems a long time since we have seen a motivated Corinthians in the league, I am 100% certain that out of Copa Libertadores that they have Copa do Brasil as their priority, but do not have to play their semi final second leg in that competition until the 27th and they can give full attention to Sport today. The hosts are 10th which is not good enough and only six points clear of the drop zone, they are in no real danger of getting involved in that unless they drop points today , but they don't even want to flirt with a battle at the wrong end of the table, so, surely, three points today. They have a fantastic h2h record, winning the last six here, scoring 3+ in each, 4 of the last 5 by 2+ goals. Jair Ventura, son of legendary player Jairzinho, is their new head coach and will want to hit the ground running today on his home debut, especially after losing the derby with Palmeiras last Sunday.
Sport are in trouble, inside the drop zone and finding goals very hard to come by, I sided with them in a "must win" home game with Cruzeiro, who had other priorities, last weekend................
I opposed Sport for a home start with America late last month when my notes included ..........
Sport followed up that home defeat ( now won just 5/19 in Recife ) with a 5,400 round trip down to Santos where they lost 3-0, that's 11 conceded in four starts and 4/8 without scoring.
They will doubtless be up for a visit from America who are 1-1-7 on the road, but the visitors are proving increasing tough to score against and have allowed just three in six starts, a sequence which includes a home win over Inter, draw with Palmeiras and win away to Santos. They won the reverse fixture 3-0 and given how tight they have been defensively, one goal might be enough to get something from this and you would not wish to risk much on a Sport clean sheet currently. America are weakened defensively with the loss of two full backs, but this is counter balanced somewhat by winger Rogerio being suspended for Sport, he has scored or assisted in 2 of just 5 wins for the host this season.
They lost that 2-0 and have come up short in two subsequent road games by the same scoreline, but did edge past Parana 1-0 here in Recife inbetween. They remain bottom four, albeit only a point from safety, but have a very tough schedule with a trip to Corinthians next midweek and then facing three games against top 6 teams, two on the road and they absolutely need a win today. Cruzeiro are a very decent team but have won just once in eight starts in all competitions, scored just 4 in the other 7 and have other priorities, they play a Copa do Brasil semi final first leg away to Palmeiras on Wednesday and a Copa Libertadores QF first leg away to Boca Juniors seven days later, with a derby game with Atletico MG shoehorned inbetween and surely all three take precedence and at least in terms of motivation they should come up short with Sport, if not, I am not sure what is left this season for the host. Cruzeiro also have to handle the 4,000 km round trip to Recife where night time weather is forecast to be 11-12 degress hotter than Belo Horizonte. Hosts are traditionally tough to beat here and need to start making their home ground a fortress once more if they are to survive.
That finished 0-0, no damage done for us, but that makes just 1 goal in 6 starts and only one attempt on target in a game they desperately needed to win. They arrive without suspended CB Ronaldo Alves who also sat out the 3-1 loss here last season (3-0 after an hour at which time Corinthians switched off). Home win and historical trends to continue.
1.75 units Corinthians -1 ball 2.20 asian line/Sportmarket.
