Fortaleza
It’s been a rough week for Fortaleza, who have suffered back-to-back defeats in league and cup competition.

First came a 3-0 battering at the hands of Vasco da Gama in the Brasileirão. Goals from Nuno Moreira and a brace from Pablo Vegetti sealed a dominant win for the Rio club. To make matters worse, both Marinho was shown a red card, compounding an already miserable evening.

Midweek brought even more disappointment as Fortaleza hosted Série C side Retrô in the Copa do Brasil. Breno López gave Fortaleza the lead, but Mike equalised for the underdogs, sending the tie to penalties. There, Juan Lucero and Kevin Andrade both missed their spot-kicks, while Retrô converted all four of theirs to pull off a stunning upset.

After a tough string of results, Fortaleza will be desperate to respond and get back on track in this upcoming fixture.

Cruzeiro
Cruzeiro are unbeaten in their last four league matches and currently sit third in the Brasileirão standings with five wins, two draws, and two defeats from their opening nine games. They’ve looked strong and consistent, but they’ll feel they missed an opportunity in their most recent league outing.

Last time out, they faced rivals Atlético Mineiro in the Clássico Mineiro and were left frustrated after a 0-0 draw in a match they largely dominated. Cruzeiro enjoyed 53% possession and registered 21 shots, but managed only four on target — a statistic they’ll be looking to improve in this next fixture.

Midweek brought a more clinical display in the Copa do Brasil, where Cruzeiro cruised to a 3-0 victory away to Vila Nova. A brace from Carlos Eduardo and a late goal from Jonathan Jesus in the 86th minute sealed the result and completed a 5-0 aggregate win, securing their place in the next round.

With momentum on their side and facing a Fortaleza team in poor spirits, Cruzeiro will be aiming to take full advantage and continue their push toward the top two.

Prediction – Fortaleza 0-2 Cruzeiro