Group H in the Copa Sudamericana reaches a pivotal moment as Atletico Mineiro host Caracas at Arena MRV, Belo Horizonte. Both sides are level on points and the winner could significantly boost their hopes for the knockout rounds. The inside story? Despite being the group’s clear favorite, Atletico Mineiro have shown some vulnerability at home, while Caracas travel with everything to play for after holding Mineiro to a 1-1 draw in Venezuela earlier in the group.
Among Atletico Mineiro’s attacking arsenal, veteran forward Hulk stands out with two goals in his last three appearances, bringing invaluable leadership and experience to Cuca’s lineup. For Caracas, Jeriel De Santis garners attention with three goals in the last four games, providing the Venezuelans a dynamic threat up front who will force Mineiro’s defenders to keep close tabs.
Hot stat: Across their last five matches, Atletico Mineiro have fired a remarkable 119 total shots, compared to Caracas’ 52—a telling indicator of their attacking intent and home dominance.
| 🏆 Tournament: | Copa Sudamericana 2025 Group H |
| 🏟 Venue: | Arena MRV, Belo Horizonte |
| 🗓️ Date: | 16.05.2025 |
| ⏰ Time: | 03:30 CEST |
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Atletico Mineiro vs Caracas prediction
The best value prediction points to Atletico Mineiro picking up all three points at home. Bookmakers overwhelmingly favor the Brazilians, and with good reason: their underlying attacking data—most notably 119 shots and 11 goals in their last five matches—speaks to their relentless offensive philosophy. Caracas, while combative and dangerous on the break, have struggled away from home, conceding nine goals in their last five matches, and posting lower possession numbers and fewer attacking chances per game.
Expect Cuca’s side to control proceedings through sustained possession (over 80% pass accuracy recently) and an aggressive press, causing frequent turnovers. Both clubs average moderate yellow cards per game (Atletico: 15 in five, Caracas: 12), but Mineiro’s disciplined midfield should make the difference in dictating play. Caracas will rely on defensive unity and will look to exploit set pieces, having just one free kick goal recently, but face an uphill battle against Mineiro’s depth and home advantage.
| 🔥Hot Tip: | Atletico Mineiro -1.5 Asian Handicap |
| ⚽Total Goals: | Over 2.5 |
| 💥Both Teams To Score: | No |
| 🎯Total Corners: | Over 8.5 |
Team Analysis
Atletico Mineiro:
Mineiro’s latest game—a thrilling 3-2 home victory over Fluminense—showcased resilience and creative firepower, extending their run to three wins, two draws, and two losses in their previous seven matches. Hulk played a crucial role up front, while midfielders like Gustavo Scarpa orchestrated the tempo and contributed to Mineiro’s exceptional shot creation. Despite an earlier 2-3 slip-up against Deportes Iquique, Mineiro’s recent performances demonstrate a tendency to dominate possession and dictate play at Arena MRV, a factor likely to be pivotal against Caracas.
Caracas:
Caracas come into this match after a tough 1-3 defeat at home against Cienciano, where their defensive gaps were exposed by a dynamic Peruvian side. Their only win in the last five came against Universidad Central de Venezuela, and they struggled with high-pressure attacks, conceding 12 goals in those matches. Jeriel De Santis remains a bright spot with consistent scoring, but the defense’s lack of interceptions (41 compared to Mineiro’s 72 in the last five games) is a concern when facing one of Brazil’s deepest attacking lineups.
Most recent Head-to-Head Matches
| Statistic | Atletico Mineiro | Caracas |
|---|---|---|
| Total shots | 33 | 11 |
| Free kicks | 17 | 10 |
| Corner kicks | 13 | 5 |
| Total fouls | 24 | 27 |
| Pass accuracy (%) | 82 | 71 |
| Interceptions | 29 | 15 |
| Offsides | 4 | 3 |
🚨Read our full Atletico Mineiro vs Caracas stats for more analysis.
Pre-game odds and win probability: Atletico Mineiro the favourite
| Moneyline | Atletico Mineiro 1.12 | Caracas 19.00 |
|---|---|
| Draw | 8.00 |
| Over/Under | Over 2.5 1.75 | Under 2.5 2.20 |
| BTTS (both teams to score) | Yes 2.60 | No 1.47 |
Atletico Mineiro are unparalleled favorites by every major bookmaker, priced at 1.10–1.14 for the win, reflecting the massive gap in squad value, form, and home advantage. The over 2.5 goals market is favored as well, given both teams’ recent defensive records and Mineiro’s attacking frequency. “Both Teams To Score: No” is backed by recent head-to-head data—Caracas failed to net in their last away meeting.
You can find all our predictions for today’s games on our football betting tips page.
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Possible Starting Lineups

Atletico Mineiro possible starting eleven
- GK: Éverson
- DF: Rubens Antonio Dias, Junior Alonso, Vitor Hugo, Renzo Saravia
- MF: Fausto Vera, Gustavo Scarpa, Igor Gomes, Alan Franco
- FW: Hulk, Bernard
The selection focuses on Cuca’s tactical preference for a 4-2-3-1, maximizing ball-playing defenders and dynamic wide players. Éverson is a model of consistency between the posts, while Rubens and Alonso anchor the back line. Scarpa and Igor Gomes offer creativity in midfield, complementing Hulk and Bernard’s flair in advanced positions. Hulk is the marquee name—his strength and finishing will be pivotal against Caracas’ vulnerable backline.

Caracas possible starting eleven
- GK: Alain Baroja
- DF: Luis Mago, Francisco Andres La Mantia Pipaon, Brayan José Rodríguez Luna, Ender Jesús Echenique Peña
- MF: Vicente Bautista Rodríguez Cedeño, M. Vegas, W. Correa
- FW: Jeriel De Santis, nerban lewuis diaz pena, nestor jimenez
Coach Fernando Aristeguieta typically opts for a compact 4-2-3-1. Jeriel De Santis spearheads the attack and is key to Caracas’ chances, having accounted for half the team’s recent goals. Solid if unspectacular, Baroja brings experience but the defensive unit, especially under pressing, will need to be on alert. Mago and La Mantia Pipaon must stay disciplined to counter Mineiro’s multi-pronged threat.
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Caracas. Source: Official Facebook. Edited photo
The Verdict
Atletico Mineiro’s greater squad depth, home record, and clinical offensive output give them a clear edge. Expect them to control the pace, rack up scoring chances, and ultimately secure victory, likely by more than one goal. Caracas’ main threats will come from set pieces or counter-attacks but, barring early mistakes from Mineiro, the points should stay in Belo Horizonte. My main pick is Atletico Mineiro -1.5 Asian Handicap, as I see their collective quality and recent form proving decisive in Group H.

