Ronaldinho, Bernard out of Atletico's Brasileirao opener
SAO PAULO - Ronaldinho and Borussia Dortmund target Bernard are set to be rested for Atletico Mineiro's opening Brazilian Serie A championship match against Coritiba on Sunday.
Bernard injured his left thigh during the team's 2-2 draw with Tijuana in their Copa Libertadores quarterfinal first leg on Thursday while Ronaldinho suffered a swollen eye after a knock early in the match.
Former Manchester City striker Jo is also expected to miss Sunday's fixture as the Brazilian outfit prepares for Thursday's return leg against Tijuana in Belo Horizonte.
"We are going to prioritize the Copa Libertadores," Atletico coach Cuca said on Saturday. "We want to start the Brasileirao in a positive way and hopefully that will be the case but I am going to rest some players."
Atletico have never won the Copa Libertadores, considered Latin America's premier club competition, and their only Brazilian top-flight title came in 1971.