After debuting at Arena MRV with a 2-0 victory against Santos, Atlético-MG has already started preparations to return to the field in the next round. On Saturday (02), Galo visits Athletico-PR. The team has a comeback, but will have two embezzlements and a hanging Hulk.
In the match against Santos, Atlético saw Battaglia and Maurício Lemos receive their third yellow card. With that, they are suspended for the next game. The card for the Argentine midfielder was even a criticism that football director Rodrigo Caetano made after the game:
– It’s no use punishing me, if I have to come here, complain and defend the Rooster every day, they’ll continue to punish me. We want equality in everything. Today we had to calm down Battaglia because, in the game against Flamengo, he lost two teeth and it wasn’t even a fault. Today, a bid with much less strength, gets yellowed and is out of the next game. Will I be silent?
For the next game, Bruno Fuchs should replace Maurício Lemos, while Alan Franco should take over from Battaglia, who is the current captain of the team. Without the steering wheel, the banner should go to Guilherme Arana’s arms.
New scheme?
Although Alan Franco seems like the natural replacement for Battaglia, Felipão may choose to use a different formation against Athletico-PR. Without his steering wheel, the coach can test the three defenders, who he said he had already trained in Cidade do Galo. As Lemos is out and Igor Rabello suspended, the trio would be formed by Jemerson, Bruno Fuchs and Réver. However, if he opts for this scheme, Felipão will have no options for defenders on the bench.
hanging hulk
Speaking of captain of Atlético, Hulk left the armband aside nine games ago, after being sent off for two yellow cards for complaining against América-MG. He felt persecuted by arbitration.
Since then, Hulk has gone eight straight games without being cautioned. This Sunday (27), he received a yellow card again, but it wasn’t because of a complaint. He was substituted in the 54th minute of the second stage, but ended up taking a while to leave the field and was warned by the referee. With that, the striker and main player of the Galo is hanging in the Brazilian Championship. After the Hurricane, the alvinegro will receive the leader Botafogo again at the MRV Arena.
Hulk was the author of the assists for Paulinho’s two goals, the first in the history of Arena MRV, in this Sunday’s match against Santos. On leaving the field, he celebrated the victory and spoke of the difference it makes to have the fan closer to the pitch, as it is in the new athletic home.
Hulk talking about the difference it makes to play at the MRV Arena, where the crowd is very close to the pitch.@trivela pic.twitter.com/j4wDFV5su3
—Alecsander Heinrick (@alecshms) August 27, 2023
Zaracho back at Atlético
It’s not just bad news that Atlético lives in terms of available players. Midfielder Matías Zaracho started this Monday (28) the period of physical transition to return to the pitch. He has been out since Aug. 2, having missed five games in that span.
DM Inform
Midfielder Matías Zaracho started the transition period today to return to the pitch.
The athlete is in the final stages of recovery from a muscle injury in the posterior region of the right thigh.
Not long, brother! #GaloPaixãoNacional pic.twitter.com/oOvV8wv23i
— Athletic (@Atletico) August 28, 2023
The midfielder should be released to work normally with the group later this week. If that really happens, Zaracho will be available to Felipão for the game against Athletico-PR. Despite this, due to the time out, it is likely that he will not act or play a few minutes, being really released against Botafogo.
Atlético-MG next matches
- Saturday – 02/09 – 16h – Ligga Arena – Athletico-PR x Atlético
- Saturday – 9/16 – 9pm – MRV Arena – Atlético x Botafogo
- Saturday – 23/09 – 21h – Arena MRV – Atlético x Cuiabá