📊 Form Guide

Fortaleza

WWDWWW 📈

Fortaleza are hoping to win again after their last result, a 1-2 Serie A victory over São Paulo.

In that match, Fortaleza had 29% possession and 6 attempts at goal with 2 on target. For Fortaleza, the goalscorers were Juan Lucero (66') and Imanol Machuca (80'). On the other side, Sao Paulo got 15 shots on goal with 6 on target. André Silva (84') scored for São Paulo.

Their latest results highlight the fact that huge efforts have been put in by the Fortaleza backline. Fortaleza have kept it tight, resulting in the number of goals that have gone past their goalkeeper during their last 6 matches standing at 2.

Ahead of this clash, Fortaleza have not been beaten in their last 3 league matches at home.

Cruzeiro

DDLDDW

Cruzeiro come into this clash following on from a 3-2 Serie A win against Botafogo in their most recent game.

In that match, Cruzeiro had 57% possession and 15 attempts on goal with 5 on target. For Cruzeiro, goals were scored by Lucas Silva (20'), Rafa Silva (65') and Rafael Elias (91'). Botafogo had 6 shots on goal with 3 on target. Tiquinho Soares (5') and Danilo Barbosa (83') scored for Botafogo.

In 5 of the prior 6 clashes involving Cruzeiro, a comparatively low number of goals have been hit between them and opposing sides. The overall average goals scored per game during that period is a meagre 2, with the number of goals averaged by Celeste being 0.83. Such a pattern won’t necessarily be sustained into this game, though.

Ahead of this clash, Cruzeiro are undefeated in their last 3 league matches away from home.

👥 Head to head

Checking out their prior head to head meetings stretching back to 03/06/2006, it’s been all-even between these two clubs with Fortaleza winning 2 of those games, Cruzeiro 2 and 2 being drawn after 90 minutes of play.

A sum of 9 goals were shared by the two clubs in these games, with 4 of them from Fortaleza and 5 created by Celeste. The average goals per game has been 1.5.

The previous league match featuring the two was Serie A match day 30 on 18/11/2023 which ended up with the score at Fortaleza 0-1 Cruzeiro.

In that game, Fortaleza managed 53% possession and 18 shots on goal with 7 of them on target.

On the other side, Cruzeiro got 7 attempts at goal with 2 of them on target. Bruno Rodrigues (80') was the scorer.

The referee was Savio Pereira Sampaio.

🗞️ Team News: Fortaleza

The Fortaleza boss Juan Vojvoda has no fitness worries whatsoever coming into this game thanks to a fully healthy group available to select from.

It’s our opinion that Fortaleza will probably kick off with a 4-2-3-1 formation, utilising João Ricardo, Tinga, Emanuel Brítez, Titi, Bruno Pacheco, Hércules, Ze Welison, Yago Pikachu, Tomas Pochettino, Marinho and Juan Martin Lucero.

🗞️ Team News: Cruzeiro

Cruzeiro manager Fernardo Seabra has to currently contend with reduced team options. Gabriel Veron (Torn thigh muscle) and Rafael Bilu (Achilles tendon rupture) are those who can’t be considered.

It’s our belief that Celeste might utilise a 4-2-3-1 lineup, going with Anderson Paixao, William, Neris, Zé Ivaldo, Marlon, Ramiro, Lucas Romero, Lucas Silva, Matheus Pereira, Arthur Gomes and Rafael Silva.

✨ Prediction

When taking all factors into account, Cruzeiro will likely be able to score a goal against this Fortaleza outfit, but that is unlikely to be enough to prevent defeat.

We are anticipating a tight encounter finishing with a 2-1 winning score for Fortaleza at the end of the 90 minutes. Let’s wait and see how it plays out.

Our expert partners are tipping under 3.5 goals for this match. Check out their VIP predictions here.

Renata Leite, 22:05 17/04/2024