Cruzeiro snatches a draw in the Minas Gerais derby.

247 - In the first derby after Cruzeiro's big (and suspicious) 6-1 victory in the last round of the 2011 Brazilian Championship, Cruzeiro and Atlético-MG played a great game at the Arena do Jacaré. And, despite the large advantage opened by Galo in the first half, the celestial team managed to recover and, thanks to two goals from Anselmo Ramon, the derby ended in a 2-2 draw. With the result, Atlético-MG remains in first place in the Campeonato Mineiro, but loses its 100% winning record. Cruzeiro remains in second position, with 25 points. In the next match, Cruzeiro faces Uberlândia at the Arena do Calçado, and Atlético-MG plays Tupi at the Municipal Juiz de Fora.

The Game

Atlético-MG started the game aggressively against Cruzeiro, closing down spaces and pressing high up the pitch. The first scoring opportunity came with Guilherme, who dribbled past his marker at the edge of the box and shot straight at the defender. The game was heated and tense, so much so that, just three minutes in, striker Wellington Paulista and goalkeeper Renan Ribeiro had a heated argument – ​​both received yellow cards. At 14 minutes, André attempted a bicycle kick from outside the box, but goalkeeper Fábio made a comfortable save. In the following minute, Atlético-MG launched a quick counter-attack: Guilherme broke into the box on the right and shot, but Marcelo Oliveira managed to clear.

At 22 minutes, Richarlyson delivered a perfect cross for Danilinho, who, unmarked, headed the ball in to open the scoring. Atlético-MG continued to press and created danger from a corner taken by Bernard, but Réver's header went over the goal. Galo dominated the match, suffocating Cruzeiro's defense and giving the celestial team no space to create plays. At 38 minutes, Danilinho received a great pass and played it to the side. André appeared alone, with an open goal, and pushed the ball into the net.

In the second half, both coaches decided to change their teams, and Cruzeiro displayed a very different style of football compared to the first half. Just 40 seconds in, Montillo was fouled on the left side of the attack. Roger crossed the ball into the area, but it went past everyone and out of play. In response, Bernard broke into the area on the right, dribbled past the defender, and shot across goal, forcing a great save from Fábio.

Cruzeiro was already playing much better and, in the 14th minute, Diego Renan moved to the right, crossed into the area, and Anselmo Ramon rose higher than the entire Atlético-MG defense, reducing the deficit. After conceding the goal, Atlético-MG felt the blow and retreated, giving Cruzeiro all the space to work the ball. In the 22nd minute, Anselmo Ramon made a great pass to Wellington Paulista, who controlled the ball skillfully and shot hard. The ball grazed the post and went out of play.

Cruzeiro continued their attack and, in a great offensive play, Montillo found Anselmo Ramon in the box. The striker controlled the ball and shot powerfully into the left corner of Renan Ribeiro's goal. Three minutes after the goal, Atlético-MG's situation became more difficult with the expulsion of Pierre, who received his second yellow card after fouling Montillo. Even with one less player, Galo pressed at the end of the match. In the 41st minute, Neto Berola took a shot from the edge of the area and the ball deflected off the defender. Danilinho got the rebound, but the defense prevailed once again.