Preview: America Mineiro vs. Millonarios - prediction, team news, lineups

The hosts have already been eliminated from South America's secondary continental competition after picking up just four points from four matches so far.

Match preview

Indeed, after finishing comfortably mid-table in Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A last season, America Mineiro have not made the greatest start to the current campaign.

On top of crashing out of the Copa Sudamericana after losing 3-2 at home to Defensa y Justicia last time out in the competition, Vagner Mancini's side have been languishing in the relegation zone in their domestic division after losing six of their opening eight games.

However, their outlook has moved an upwards trajectory in the past week, with Coelho advancing to the quarter-finals of the Copa do Brasil by edging out Internacional on penalties, before surprisingly dispatching Corinthians 2-0 at the weekend.

While Mancini - who is in his second spell as manager at the club - will be keen for his players to press on and move themselves outside of the drop zone in the coming weeks, the 56-year-old may sense that his side have turned a corner with plenty of the season still remaining.

Colombian side Millonarios, meanwhile, are enjoying another successful era in the history of the club under the tutelage of Alberto Gamero.

The 59-year-old, who has been in charge of Millos since 2020, guided his side to being runners-up in Categoría Primera A in his first season in charge, before finishing top of the regular season table last time out.

Millonarios missed out on winning their 16th top-flight title during the end of season playoff system, but they did manage to get their hands on the Copa Colombia for only the third time in the club's history.

Gamero's side were defeated by Atletico Mineiro in the final qualifying round of the Copa Libertadores, but they finished second in the first section of their domestic division, and they could wrap up top spot in Group F of the Copa Sudamericana with a victory in Belo Horizonte in midweek.

America Mineiro Copa Sudamericana form:

W

L

D

L

America Mineiro form (all competitions):

L

W

L

L

W

W

Millonarios Copa Sudamericana form:

W

W

D

W

Millonarios form (all competitions):

D

L

W

W

D

W

Team News

America Mineiro will remain without Dada Belmonte and Adyson due to groin and ankle injuries respectively, while Matheusinho is still unavailable for selection due to a virus.

Given that his side have already been eliminated from this tournament and are battling to move away from relegation danger in their domestic division, Mancini could make several changes for what essentially represents a dead-rubber for his team.

Millonarios, meanwhile, will travel without Daniel Catano due to a sprained ankle, but otherwise Gamero appears to have a fully fit squad at his disposal.

With his players having five days between this match and their next league game, the former Deportes Tolima boss could name a strong starting XI in the hope that they can secure first position in the group with a game to spare.

America Mineiro possible starting lineup:

Cavichioli; Potiguar, Goncalves, Vichiatto; Silva, Ale, Rodriguinho, Marlon; Benitez, Mikael, Azevedo

Millonarios possible starting lineup:

Montero; Perlaza, Llinas, Vargas, Arias; Giraldo, Vega; Busatamante, Silva, Espinosa; Castro

We say: America Mineiro 1-1 Millonarios

America Mineiro appear to have found better form across their recent outings, but unfortunately it has arrived too late for them to remain in the Copa Sudamericana.

With the hosts likely to rest several key players ahead of an important league game at the weekend, we can envisage a share of the spoils in this match, which may not be enough to keep Millonarios on top of Group F.

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