📏 Form Guide

Fortaleza

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Fortaleza enter this game following a 1-1 Copa do Brasil drawn game vs Retrô.

In that game, Fortaleza managed 59% possession and 17 attempts at goal with 3 on target. The scorer for Fortaleza was Breno Lopes (57'). Retrô had 11 attempts at goal with 5 on target. Mike (65') scored for Retrô. The game was won 1-4 by Retrô on penalties.

Their more recent scorelines highlight the fact that things are going according to plan in the Fortaleza rearguard. Fortaleza have kept it tight, resulting in the number of goals that have gone in at their end over the course of their last six matches standing at 4.

Going into this one, Fortaleza haven't been beaten in the league by Cruzeiro in their last 2 games.

Cruzeiro

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Cruzeiro head into the match following a 0-3 Copa do Brasil win versus Vila Nova in their last outing.

In that game, Cruzeiro had 52% possession and 15 attempts at goal with 10 of them on target. The scorer for Cruzeiro was Carlos Eduardo (56', 75'). On the other side, Vila Nova had 21 shots at goal with 7 on target.

A succession of steadfast showings by the Cruzeiro defensive unit has seen their ‘goals against’ tally standing at 3 from their past 6 fixtures in total. In that period of time, their own forwards have managed to score 10. Such a trend won’t necessarily be carried forward into this next game, however.

Heading into this contest, Cruzeiro remain undefeated by Fortaleza when having played them away from home in the previous 2 matches in the league.

🤜🤛 Head to head

Inspecting their prior head to head meetings going back to 13/06/2019 tells us that Fortaleza have won 3 of them and Cruzeiro 1, with the number of drawn matches being 2.

In all, 12 goals were shared by the two clubs during those clashes, with 7 of them from Fortaleza and 5 created by Celeste. This gives an average number of goals per game equal to 2.

The previous league encounter between the two was Serie A match day 21 on 06/08/2024 which ended up with the score at Cruzeiro 1-2 Fortaleza.

On that day, Cruzeiro managed 68% possession and 15 attempts at goal with 7 of them on target. Their only player to score was Matheus Henrique (15').

Fortaleza had 11 shots on goal with 4 of them on target. Breno Lopes (9') and Renato Kayzer (42') scored.

The match was refereed by Alex Gomes Stefano.

ℹ️ Team News: Fortaleza

Rodrigo Santos (Fitness), Moisés (Thigh problems), Matheus Rossetto (Calf injury) and Lucas Sasha (Forearm fracture) will not be able to play for Fortaleza boss Juan Vojvoda.

In our view, Fortaleza may well go for a 4-3-3 formation featuring Joao Ricardo, Tinga, Benjamin Kuscevic, Gustavo Mancha, Diogo Barbosa, Guillermo Fernandez, Jose Welison, Leandro Martinez, Yago Pikachu, Juan Martin Lucero and Breno Lopes.

📋 Team News: Cruzeiro

Cruzeiro boss Leonardo Jardim has to choose a team with limited availability. João Marcelo (Torn knee ligaments), Matheus Henrique (Meniscus injury), Japa (Inflammation of the biceps tendon in the thigh), Wanderson (Knee bruise) and Fagner (Muscle fatigue) are not able to play.

There’s a good chance that Celeste seem most likely to utilise a 4-2-3-1 lineup, settling for Cassio, William, Fabricio Bruno, Lucas Villalba, Kaiki, Lucas Daniel Romero, Lucas Silva, Marquinhos, Gabriel Barbosa, Christian Cardoso and Kaio Jorge.

⚡ Prediction

We’re thinking that Cruzeiro are capable enough to score against this Fortaleza side, but that probably shouldn’t be as many as they’ll concede.

Our selection here is for a narrow 2-1 victory for Fortaleza after 90 minutes. It really should be an interesting one.

Renata Leite, 23:07 25/05/2025