Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Brazilian Serie A match.
Cruzeiro are currently battling Flamengo for the top spot in the league. At the moment, they hold a three-point lead, but their rivals have a game in hand. Dropping points is simply not an option, especially with a tricky fixture against Corinthians Paulista up next.
Corinthians Paulista
Corinthians Paulista are severely affected by injuries. Both Maycon de Andrade Barberan and Yuri Alberto, key attacking players, remain sidelined, while midfielder Ryan Gustavo is also unavailable. Given these absences, it came as no surprise that Corinthians Paulista failed to put up any resistance against São Paulo in their recent 0:2 defeat. With the current squad limitations, this team does not seem ready to compete with Cruzeiro.
Cruzeiro
Cruzeiro come into this match on the back of four consecutive victories, including a convincing 2:0 win over Fluminense. The squad is being driven forward by the in-form striker Kaio Jorge, who has recorded six goal contributions (four goals and two assists) in his last three matches. Additionally, first-choice goalkeeper Cássio Ramos is set to return after serving a one-match suspension due to yellow card accumulation.
Corinthians Paulista vs Cruzeiro Prediction
It is hard to see any team stopping Cruzeiro at the moment. They are steamrolling opponents on their way to the title. Corinthians Paulista are in disarray, so the visitors are highly unlikely to leave empty-handed.
