Criciúma vs Atlético Goianiense Prediction: The Goianos still believe

The opening match of Round 29 features Criciúma and Atlético Goianiense, two teams involved in the relegation battle. The home side is in 14th place with 32 points, four points above the lifeline. Atlético, meanwhile, is in a dramatic situation, occupying last place with 21 points. However, the Goianos defeated Fluminense in their previous game, showing they still believe in salvation.

The Coalmen lost 1-0 in Salvador against Bahia in a game where they struggled to create goalscoring opportunities. The home side had 21 shots compared to just two for Criciúma, and the final result was flattering for the Tiger. Tencati's men had beaten Grêmio on the road midweek and weren't as dynamic. Criciúma must beat Atlético Goianiense as the opponent is in last place, so the Santa Catarina side can't afford to drop points at home to a direct competitor. Criciúma's record at home is not brilliant, with four wins, seven draws, and three defeats in 14 games.

The Dragon got a crucial home win against Fluminense, another team in the relegation zone. The winner came in the 84th minute through Janderson in a highly contested move by the Cariocas. Initially, the referee disallowed the goal, but after analyzing the images, the VAR decided that the ball didn't cross the goal line and the assist was legal. That was the key moment in a game that was not very exciting but gave the Goianos three precious points to keep dreaming of avoiding relegation. The match with Criciúma and all those that follow will be like finals for Atlético, who must keep winning to get out of the last place.

Criciúma has been having a consistent league, staying above the relegation zone all season. The Catarinenses play attacking football, especially at home, but they often fail to score. If they don't capitalize on their goalscoring opportunities, they could have problems with Atlético Goianiense, who will give everything on the pitch. The draw doesn't matter to either team, and I'm putting my money on Criciúma.