Nova Lavras vs Santarritense - Mineiro - 3

The history between Nova Lavras and Santarritense lends this Mineiro - 3 fixture an extra layer of spice, and when the two walk out at the home ground on October 10, 2026, recent encounters will be on everyone's mind. O'Neill made five changes for Celtic's midweek win at St Johnstone as he rested some key players ahead of Sunday's clash.

Both Nova Lavras and Santarritense will be eager to build momentum when they meet in Mineiro - 3. Nova Lavras will be keen to seize the initiative and build some momentum on home soil. Santarritense will travel with intent, knowing that a positive result here could kick-start their campaign. In what is arguably the most pointed contrast to Chelsea's recruitment strategy of recent years, Andrich was almost 25 years old when he made his Bundesliga debut for Union Berlin.

The tactical battle could prove decisive. Nova Lavras may lean on their home advantage to dictate the tempo, but Santarritense have shown they can be dangerous when allowed to play on their own terms. They were slightly found out against Amorim's Milan in pre-season, with the press not quite sharp enough - the fourth goal, in particular, came from just one ball over a high-lined defence.

In fixtures as finely poised as this one, it often comes down to who holds their nerve in the big moments — and both camps have players who relish that responsibility. Set-piece specialists and aerial threats on both sides mean dead-ball situations could carry outsized importance. St Johnstone twice gave up a lead before storming back to edge a seven-goal thriller on their Scottish Premiership return at home to Kilmarnock.

The market has yet to form a strong view, and the contest looks genuinely difficult to call. A share of the spoils looks the most probable outcome, with neither side holding a decisive edge — a 1-1 draw feels like a fitting result. Whatever the outcome, the Mineiro - 3 fixture promises a meaningful contest with real implications for both clubs. The team currently most likely to win the 2026 WNBA Finals according to Opta.