Bitesize Prediction: Ceara vs Ituano – 28/07/23

Competition: Serie B

Market: Ceara win

Odds: 8/11 @ Pribet

Looking to make an immediate return to winning ways late on Friday night, Ceara will welcome Ituano to the Castelao when this weekend’s Series B fixtures get underway.

Starting with the hosts, suffering last-gasp heartbreak away at Juventude last weekend as they eventually slumped to a 1-0 loss, there is no doubt that Ceara will be seeking an immediate response here. Despite watching their three-match unbeaten run come to an abrupt end last time out, the Vozao still have their sights set on mounting a late charge for the promotion spots. Although Guto Ferreira’s men might be seeking some stability since returning from June’s international break, the Fortaleza-based outfit will certainly be excited by the prospect of making a return to home soil on Friday night. Last seen at the Castelao picking up a gritty 1-0 victor against Vila Nova, Ceara have secured back-to-back wins in front of their own supporters by an aggregate score of 4-0. Smelling the chance to claim an immediate boost this weekend, Guto’s men have also not shipped a single strike on home soil in over 270 minutes of action.

As for the visitors, although Ituano might have opened the 2023 campaign with their sights set on mounting their own top-four charge, Gilmar Dal Pozzo’s men have come under a huge amount of scrutiny this season. Opening this weekend’s fixtures holding just a two-point buffer from slipping into the drop zone, the Sao Paulo-based outfit have managed to muster just a single win from any of their previous nine straight Serie B appearances – a run that stems all the way back to June 6th. Now suffering back-to-back 1-0 losses against Avai and Chapecoense, the one-time Ceara boss will face a huge challenge when he returns to the Castelao on Friday night. With their extended struggle underlined by a 1-0 defeat at home against Ponte Preta last month, Ituano have certainly shown some rather glaring issues in the final third. It should be highlighted, Dal Pozzo’s side have drawn a blank in each of their last three Serie B showdowns.

Bet: Ceara 8/11 to beat Ituano in Friday’s Serie B battle @ Pribet