Prediction: Palmeiras vs Cruzeiro

Verdict: Home win

Best odds: 4/7

Bookmaker: 888sport

Second-place Palmeiras return to Brasileiro action against Cruzeiro at Allianz Parque on Saturday, following a narrow defeat in their top-of-the-table clash with Botafogo on Wednesday.

Verdao slipped three points behind Fogo after the 1-0 loss, and they aim to prevent that gap from widening when they face their sixth-placed opponents in this weekend’s gameweek 18 action.

Palmeiras

Abel Ferreira’s men had notched back-to-back wins Botafogo but couldn’t secure a third consecutive victory, falling 1-0 to Artur Jorge’s side in round 17.

This result leaves Alviverde three points behind Botafogo who top the league and are challenging for the title after consecutive championship-winning campaigns by Palmeiras.

It was the first time Verdao had failed to score in the league since their 3-0 defeat at Fortaleza in late June, ending their four-game scoring streak in the competition.

Returning to Allianz Parque should bolster their confidence, as Ferreira’s men are on a six-match scoring run at home. The last team to keep them from scoring in Sao Paulo was Athletico Paranaense, who handed the second-placed side a 2-0 defeat.

A 1-0 defeat to Internacional and a goalless draw with Flamengo followed in April, but Alviverde have since responded to those three winless home games by going on an extended winning streak on their turf.

Team News

Estevao seemed to sustain an injury against Botafogo, and the attacker could miss this weekend’s match.

Ferreira’s preparations for this crucial game are further complicated by the potential absence of the team’s star player, who might join Lazaro (thigh) and Bruno Rodrigues (knee) on the sidelines. This would leave Palmeiras without their leading goalscorer and top assist provider, significantly impacting their attacking options.

Cruzeiro

Cruzeiro aim to avoid becoming the seventh team to succumb to Palmeiras at Allianz Parque this season, although their poor record on the road doesn’t inspire much confidence.

Their last away match saw them secure a 2-0 victory against a 10-man Gremio, marking only their second away win this season. Prior to that, Fernando Seabra’s squad had endured three consecutive away defeats—4-1 at Bahia, 2-1 at Flamengo, and 1-0 at Criciuma—indicating that the recent away win might be an outlier rather than a trend.

This inconsistency on the road positions Cruzeiro just above six other teams in the away standings. Their difficulty in securing consecutive away results could jeopardize their ambition to finish in the top four.

Currently, they are placed sixth, which would qualify them for the second of three Copa Libertadores stages. However, securing a top-four spot would grant them direct entry into the Copa Libertadores group stage.

Considering they finished 14th last season, this year marks a significant improvement since Fernando Seabra took over from Nicolas Larcamon in early April. Cruzeiro are hopeful of maintaining their positive momentum and returning to the Copa Libertadores for the first time since the 2018/19 season.

Team News

Cruzeiro’s Alvaro Barreal was substituted after 68 minutes due to a potential injury in their recent match against Bragantino, making his availability for Saturday uncertain.

Additionally, Celeste are likely to be without Walace, Marlon (shoulder), Rafael Silva (thigh), and Juan Dinenno (groin) due to ongoing injury issues.

On a positive note, Matheus Pereira returned to the scoresheet in the victory over Bragantino. The former West Bromwich Albion player will be looking to increase his tally of six top-flight goals this weekend.

Conclusion

Palmeiras may have struggled in their first three home fixtures this season, but they have since found their stride, securing six consecutive victories and keeping clean sheets in half of those matches.

This impressive run is expected to continue against Cruzeiro, one of the division’s weaker teams when it comes to away performances.

Verdict: Home win

Best odds: 4/7

Bookmaker: 888sport