Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Brazilian Serie A match.
Recently, both Cruzeiro and Palmeiras suffered defeats in crucial matches this season. Cruzeiro fell to Racing Club in the Copa Sudamericana final (1:3), while Palmeiras could not withstand the pressure from Botafogo (1:3), thus nearly eliminating their chances of clinching the Serie A title.
Cruzeiro
Having reached the South American Cup final, Cruzeiro allocated minimal effort to domestic competitions, securing just one win since mid-September. After their defeat to Racing, they drew with Grêmio and Red Bull Bragantino (both 1:1), teams from the lower half of the table. In their last five home fixtures, Cruzeiro have amassed only six points, lacking motivation as the campaign nears its end.
Palmeiras
Palmeiras retain a theoretical chance at the title—last season, Botafogo's form dipped sharply at the last moment. Away from home, Palmeiras have conceded only 16 goals in 18 matches, matching Botafogo for the best defensive record. Moreover, over the last 10 Serie A rounds, only four teams have outscored Palmeiras, who have netted 15 goals. For the upcoming match, they will miss only full-back Marcos Rocha due to suspension, but his position can be easily covered by teammates.
Cruzeiro vs Palmeiras Prediction
Since September 2018, Cruzeiro have lost five out of six head-to-head encounters with Palmeiras—their July meeting also went to the visitors (0:2). Evidently, the reigning champions will aim to maximise their efforts at the finish line, whereas Cruzeiro seem already mentally on their off-season break.
