Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Brazilian Serie A match.
Cruzeiro
Cruzeiro collected in recent wins over Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense (4:1) and Fluminense (2:0) were largely thanks to the brilliance of Kaio Jorge, who netted four goals across those two fixtures. He now has 12 goals and 2 assists in the league. That form has helped propel Cruzeiro to the top of the standings with 30 points. This Sunday, they will be without the suspended Kaiki Bruno and Cássio Ramos, but the squad has been dominant at home, dropping just two points from seven home matches.
Juventude
Juventude's return to the Brazilian top flight has been overshadowed by defensive frailties. Before a recent 2:0 win over last-placed Recife, the squad had picked up just two points in eight rounds, conceding 21 goals in that span. The coaching staff continue to contend with injury absences, with Rodrigo Sam, Everton Luiz, and João Cipriano all ruled out and difficult to replace.
Cruzeiro vs Juventude Prediction
Juventude have lost all five of their away fixtures in this season’s Serie A, shipping 17 goals. Cruzeiro are expected to claim a straightforward win this weekend and are likely to score at least twice.
