Ceara vs Palmeiras Predictions, Betting Tips and Match Previews

Sunday’s Brazilian Serie A action sees struggling Ceara playing host to Palmeiras. The visitors will be looking to pile on the misery to Ceara.

Without victory after 10 matches, Ceara simply do not look cut out for the top flight and appear set for an immediate return to Serie B. Vozão lack quality in key areas all over the pitch and have been by far the worst team in the league in the action we’ve seen so far, evidenced by the fact they find themselves rock bottom with just 4 points.

New boss Lisca certainly has his work cut out if he is to keep the club in Serie A and although he got off to decent start midweek courtesy of a 0-0 draw at Botafogo, said stalemate continued a worrying trend which has seen Ceara fail to find the net in any of their last 5 fixtures, leaving confidence low in the camp.

None more so than because Ceara now have to face Palmeiras, one of the league’s title contenders who arrive back on form. Roger Machado’s men had started the campaign in fine fashion but went through a slight wobble, but everything now looks back on track after impressive victories over both Sao Paulo and Gremio over the last week.

Said results now have Verdao third, 6 points behind early pace-setters Flamengo and those that take to the field for the visitors will be desperate to cut that gap by claiming victory. Confidence can certainly be high in doing exactly that, given the weak opponent they face and the fact that 10 of their last 13 away games have ended in success.

There’s really only one way to play as far as this match is considered and that’s on an away win. Every factor points to a Palmeiras win and as such, we’re more than happy to back it with full confidence.

Man for man, the visitors are by far the better side and have far more momentum behind them. Ceara have been losing to teams with significantly less quality than Palmeiras and it really is difficult to envisage them competing in this clash. When you score as infrequently as the hosts do, you’ll always be up against it and Palmeiras have more than enough about them to get the job done, with a 2-0 margin of victory on the cards.

Ceara possible starting XI: Everson; Xavier, Valdo, Otavio, Santos; Pio, Richardson, Naldo; Ricardinho, Arthur, Azevedo.

Palmeiras possible starting XI: Jailson; Rocha, Carlos, Dracena, Luis; Jean, Santos, Moises; Hyoran, Willian, Dudu.