Atletico Mineiro got a 3:1 home win over a strong Atletico Paranaense side as the hosts maintained their challenge for continental spots. An own goal by Iago Maidana put the visitors ahead before Leonardo Silva levelled the scores on 25 minutes. The visitors were on top in the second but missed some good chances and eventually goals by Elias and Ricardo Oliveira settled the game in favour of Galo. Nikaõ saw a late red card.

The Parana side settled better and soon threatened as a low ball across the face of goal by Marcinho was just diverted away from the sliding Nikaõ in front of goal. But the visiting side had the lead in the next minute as a corner delivery was guided into his own net by Maidana as he tried to clear.

There was a big chance for Atletico Mineiro to level the matters just four minutes later as a cross from the left was cleared to the path of Thomas Andrade, on the edge of the area, but his powerful drive from the edge of the area was brilliantly tipped over the bar by Aderbar Santos.

The pressure from a lively and inspired home side was maintained as a cross-shot by Andrade on the right needed to be tipped over the bar by the attentive goalie. Yet the Galo had a deserved equaliser after 25 minutes as Fabio Santos swung a good cross from the left and Silva rose between two visiting defenders to guide a header into the right corner. Yet the Mineiraõ side could not quite keep the intensity and the remaining 20 minutes of the first half were played at lower tempo and with little in the way of real chances.

The second half kicked off with a decent opening for Atletico Paranaense as Raphael Veiga got the ball on the edge of the area and fired a shot on the turn that was claimed by Victor. Ans the Red and Black got closer to getting back ahed on 55 minutes as Nikaõ beat his man down the right and then lashed a superb strike from 21 yards out against the bar.

The chances kept on coming for the visiting side and Bruno Guimaraes wasted a fine opening by lifting a shot over the bar from 13 yards out after Veiga teed him up. Galo continued to look quite flimsy and vulnerable at the back and soon had another let-off as Lucho Gonzalez sent a shot over the bar from the edge of the area after Nikaõ beat two players to set up the chance.

Instead, Atletico Mineiro went on the other end to take the lead five minutes later as Elias was played into the area by Luan Paiva and hammered a clinical shot into the top corner from 12 yards out. The visitors from Parana were soon back on the offensive and seeking an equaliser and they almost got it when a powerful shot by Pablo from close range rattled the post.

Rony then had a shot from the edge of the area but his curling effort was saved well by the home goalie. Atletico Mineiro managed to keep the visitors at bay and did go to score a third goal ten minutes before the end as Oliveira was picked out inside the box and after seeing a shot saved by the goalie, he fired the ball into the back of the net at the second attempt. The visiting side had a man sent off at the end as Nikaõ saw a straight red for a poor challenge on Jose Weilson.

Atletico Mineiro proved the more cunning and clinical side and managed to edge what was an open and lively game, even if they were outplayed for most of the encounter. This one will be tough to take for Atletico Paranaense as they showed plenty of good football and ambition but could not quite cut it when it mattered in front of goal and have nothing to show for their efforts at the end of the day. They will look to bounce back quickly as two losses in a row have put them back in dangerous territory near the bottom of the table.