Atlético-MG and Cruzeiro meet again on Thursday, October 29, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. Brasília time at Arena MRV in Belo Horizonte, in round 33 of Brazil's Série A. This is the first senior-team derby since the Copa do Brasil quarter-finals, which Atlético won 3-2 on aggregate. This time, however, the match is for league points, not a knockout berth.
Atlético also won the first Série A derby of 2026, by 3-1. The key change going into the rematch is the league table: at the end of round 31, Cruzeiro were fourth with 51 points and Atlético were sixth with 50. Both still have round-32 fixtures to play, so this October 22 snapshot must not be mistaken for the standings on derby day.
The three previous 2026 derbies, separated by competition
| Date | Competition and stage | Match | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 02/05/2026 | Brasileirão, round 14 | Cruzeiro 1-3 Atlético-MG | Three Série A points for Atlético |
| 25/08/2026 | Copa do Brasil, quarter-final first leg | Cruzeiro 1-1 Atlético-MG | Tie level after the first leg |
| 01/09/2026 | Copa do Brasil, quarter-final second leg | Atlético-MG 2-1 Cruzeiro | Atlético advanced 3-2 on aggregate |
These results tell two different stories. In Série A, Atlético claimed the win on May 2 at Mineirão through goals from Alan Minda, Maycon and Mateo Cassierra, with Kaio Jorge scoring Cruzeiro's goal. October 29 is the rivals' second meeting in the 2026 Brasileirão. The August and September matches belong only to the Copa do Brasil and did not award any points in the league table.
How Atlético knocked Cruzeiro out of the Copa do Brasil
In the quarter-final first leg on August 25, Cruzeiro took the lead through Keny Arroyo before Renan Lodi equalised for Atlético in a 1-1 draw at Mineirão. In the return leg on September 1, Kaio Jorge put Cruzeiro ahead from the penalty spot at Arena MRV. Full-back Lucas Villalba was sent off for a second yellow card in the second half, and Atlético came back through goals from Victor Hugo and Fred to win 2-1.
Across the two legs the score was Atlético-MG 3-2 Cruzeiro, sending Atlético into the semi-finals. There was no penalty shootout. That qualification is a completed Copa do Brasil result: it does not confer a goal advantage, an extra home fixture or any other benefit in the round-33 league derby.
What has changed in each team's Brasileirão campaign?
On October 22, after 31 rounds, Cruzeiro had 51 points from 31 matches and sat fourth, while Atlético had 50 from 31 and sat sixth. Fluminense were between them, also on 51 points but behind Cruzeiro on tie-breakers. These places can change in subsequent rounds and are not a forecast of the final top four.
Round 31 illustrates their recent league form. On October 18, Cruzeiro beat Grêmio 4-2 away, with a Kaio Jorge hat-trick and a goal from João Marcelo. On October 17, Atlético beat Coritiba 1-0 at Arena MRV through an Igor Gomes goal, reaching 50 points. Both scores are Brasileirão results and must not be merged with the Copa do Brasil record.
Outside the league, Atlético's schedule has grown busier. On October 21, the side lost 2-0 away to Montevideo City Torque in Uruguay but reached the Copa Sudamericana final 3-2 on aggregate, having won the first leg 3-0. Cruzeiro, eliminated from the Copa do Brasil, enter this stage of the season with their competitive focus on the Brasileirão. The scheduling difference matters for preparation, but on its own it proves no physical or tactical advantage for either side.
Which matches come before the derby?
- October 23, 8 p.m.: Cruzeiro v Remo at Mineirão, in Série A round 32.
- October 26, 8 p.m.: Flamengo v Atlético-MG at Maracanã, in Série A round 32.
- October 29, 7:30 p.m.: Atlético-MG v Cruzeiro at Arena MRV, in Série A round 33.
All kick-off times are in Brasília time (America/Sao_Paulo). As of the reporting cutoff on October 22, 2026, the round-32 fixtures had not been played, so no future points are credited and predicted line-ups are not presented as official. A round-33 derby win will earn three points, a draw one point per side, and each team's position will also depend on other results and league tie-breakers.
What is Atlético-MG's next commitment after the derby?
Atlético are scheduled to play Grêmio on November 1 at 6:30 p.m. at Arena do Grêmio in the first leg of the Copa do Brasil semi-final. Under the published schedule, they then visit Botafogo on November 4 at 9:30 p.m. in the Brasileirão and host Grêmio on November 7 at 6 p.m. in the cup semi-final second leg. The Copa Sudamericana final against Boca Juniors is scheduled for November 21.
Cruzeiro are due to host Bahia on November 5 at 9:30 p.m. in Série A. The October 29 derby thus has its own significance in the league standings, while the September knockout result is relevant background rather than a current competitive advantage. The table, player availability and any fixture changes should be checked again after round 32.
Sources and references
- Atlético-MG, match page for the October 29 derby
- Atlético-MG, 3-1 win at Mineirão on May 2
- Atlético-MG, 2026 fixtures and results
- Atlético-MG, Copa do Brasil quarter-final comeback on September 1
- Atlético-MG, qualification for the Sudamericana final on October 21
- Central da Toca, Cruzeiro in the top four after round 31
- CNN Brasil, Grêmio 2-4 Cruzeiro on October 18
- CartolaNews, Série A standings checked on October 22
- Cruzeiro, official Cruzeiro v Remo match information
- ge, detailed schedule for rounds 31 to 34
- Atlético-MG, Grêmio v Atlético semi-final match page
