Atletico-MG vs Cruzeiro - Copa Do Brasil

Atletico-MG prepare to host Cruzeiro at the home ground on September 2, 2026, with both sides eager to assert their credentials and claim a result that could define their Copa Do Brasil season. That coronation came from City's £116m summer signing Elliot Anderson - and has been hotly debated in the build-up to the Manchester derby Super Sunday showdown at Old Trafford, which you can watch live on Sky Sports.

Atletico-MG head into the contest positioned 7th in the Copa Do Brasil standings, while Cruzeiro arrive sitting 12th. The hosts will be looking to find their rhythm and put a run of results together. The visitors will back themselves to cause problems and will not make the trip expecting an easy afternoon. In terms of net spend, Liverpool topped the table with £219.4m, followed by Ipswich (£190.7m), Spurs (£176m) and Hull (£160.5m).

Pressing intensity will define the contest. Atletico-MG will seek to win the ball high up the pitch and suffocate Cruzeiro's build-up, while the visitors will aim to play through the pressure and exploit the spaces it leaves behind. After the loss, a lot of questions began to be raised about their different approach to preparing for the game.

The fixture boasts genuine star quality. With Carlos Vinícius topping the Copa Do Brasil scoring charts at 3 goals, the stage is set for the kind of individual brilliance that can swing a contest. How each side deals with the other's danger men — and who takes their chances when they come — will be central to the outcome. City are contingency planning like any club would and are believed to be in talks with Lille to sign the highly rated 18-year-old Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, who impressed at the World Cup.

The market has yet to form a strong view, and the contest looks genuinely difficult to call. Given the balance of the numbers, Atletico-MG should have enough to edge it — a 2-1 victory looks the most likely outcome. With the standings tight and form on the line, this is a fixture neither side will want to lose. Important qualities given that Bournemouth will expect him to be proactive.