Criciúma vs Athletico-PR prediction: Athletico has not won in six rounds

This Round 27 match features two teams from the bottom half of the table. Criciúma is in 15th place with 28 points, just three points above the relegation zone. Athletico isn't doing much better in the table, as it sits in 15th place with 30 points and hasn't won in its last six Brasileirão fixtures.

The Catarinenses were crushed by reigning champions Palmeiras in a game they want to forget quickly. Criciúma got off to the worst possible start and was already 3-0 down after 18 minutes. The Tiger didn't improve in the second half and conceded two more goals. The 5-0 came when Palmeiras had ten players on the pitch after a red card to Caio Paulista. Tencati's men want to beat Athletico to breathe a little easier, as their position in the standings is not looking secure. In their last six games, the Coalmen have only won one and, as a result, have dropped down the table.

The Hurricane is having a disappointing league campaign and is far from its goal of finishing in the top six. Qualifying for the Copa Libertadores through the Brasileirão looks very tricky, and, at the moment, it seems easier to do it via the Copa Sudamericana. Athletico is in the quarter-finals of South America's second competition and won 1-0 at home to Racing de Avellaneda in the first leg. The goal arrived from João Cruz, an 18-year-old for whom the Curitiba club has high hopes. Martín Varíni, Athletico's coach, certainly has his doubts about the team that will play Criciúma. Ideally, the players who played against Racing should rest for the second leg in Argentina. However, the Paranaenses can't afford to lose against Criciúma as their position in the standings is starting to concern their fans.

It may seem strange, but this game matters in the relegation battle because Athletico isn't far from the Z4, and only two points separate the two sides. The Paranaenses won 1-0 against Racing in midweek in the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana quarterfinals, and a few days after the clash with Criciúma, they will play the second leg. Varini will probably decide to give some players a rest, which could boost the home team's chances of winning. I'm betting on a Double Chance for Criciúma with a maximum of three goals in the match.