Cruzeiro vs Botafogo Predictions & Betting Tips, Match Previews

Cruzeiro are playing as well as they have done all year right now and look to have finally found the form that is going to push them to comfortable survival, having surprisingly spent much of the season in the drop-zone. They are looking for a 5th straight win in all competitions here, following a 2-0 league win at America in midweek and 5-2 Cup win at this weekend’s opponents Botafogo 10 days ago. It’s 7 matches unbeaten overall now for Mano Menezes and his side and they could move above Botafogo and into the top half if they can seal all 3 points here.

Botafogo though are having a good season and have a 5 point cushion on the drop-zone following their 1-0 win over Fluminense in midweek. They’ve won 4 of their last 5 league matches and, if they can win this, they might even start eyeing up a push for the top five and Copa Libertadores football, but that could be a little too ambitious given they are a newly promoted side. Most of their success has come at home though and they’ve lost 7 of their last 10 league away games including 3 of the last 4, so in-form Cruzeiro still look the more likely winners here.

The hosts are scoring plenty of goals right now and are looking as good as anyone in the division in the final third. A big reason for that is Argentine striker Ramon Ábila who has scored in all of his last 7 matches and bagged a brace against Botafogo when the sides met in the cup. Cruzeiro’s only two clean sheets since June have come against the bottom two clubs though so an away goal should still be on the cards and, given the 5-2 scoreline when these sides last met less than a fortnight ago, backing Cruzeiro to Win & Both Teams to Score at 3/1 looks to offer extremely good value.