Atletico PR vs Cruzeiro Predictions & Betting Tips, Match Previews

Atletico PR are hoping to finish what has been a good season by clinching a Copa Libertadores place. They’ve been a bit of a strange team this term with a massive disparity between their performances at home and away. They’ve won an excellent 81% of their home games in the league but have lost 81% of their away games. That disparity has got stronger as the season has gone on and they’ve won their last 6 at home conceding just twice, but have been beaten to nil in all of their last 8 away matches, so they’ll be delighted to be back at the Estádio Joaquim Américo Guimarães in Curitiba here.

The one thing that has been consistent wherever they’ve played is the lack of goals in their games. There have been under 2.5 goals in 75% of their matches and they’ve managed to keep clean sheets in 62% of their home games, so Cruzeiro are faced with the difficult prospect of trying to break them down here.

Cruzeiro have improved considerably at the back in the past few months and it has helped lift them clear of danger. There have been under 2.5 goals in 6 of their last 7 matches in all competitions and in 10 of their last 11 in the league. Both teams have scored in only 2 of those 11 matches and their last 3 league games have produced just 1 goal in total, scored by Cruzeiro at Vitoria last time out.

Therefore, all the stats here point to this being a low-scoring game. Cruzeiro will be wary of how strong Atletico PR are at home so are unlikely to be too adventurous. They’d probably take a draw which would inch them closer to a position of guaranteed safety but the hosts will feel they can nick it. 11 of Atletico PR’s last 16 games in all competitions have ended up with 1-0 scorelines and surely backing Under 2 Goal Line at 1.975 is where the value lies here.