Cruzeiro vs Flamengo Predictions

Saturday’s Brazilian Serie A action sees Cruzeiro doing battle with Flamengo at the Mineirão. The visitors arrive as huge favourites to claim the 3 points on offer and are expected to do so without any issues against a home side that remains in complete crisis.

Now officially at the half-way point of the season, it’s fair to say Cruzeiro are in massive trouble and an embarrassing relegation to the second tier looks a real possibility. After 19 matches, Cruzeiro have put in consistently dismal performances that have seen them take just 18 points, placing them inside the relegation zone in 17th place.

Massive pressure is building on the team, with fans demanding players and board members depart and new boss Rogerio Ceni must surely be regretting his decision to take on the job a couple of weeks ago, having left a comfortable job at Fortaleza. Indeed, having lost their last 3 matches whilst conceding a huge 8 goals, the hosts come into Saturday’s game in terrible shape and with confidence levels at rock bottom.

Meanwhile, Flamengo are having no such issues and are looking far too good for most of the division. Jorge Jesus’ squad has been constructed at huge financial cost but is packed full of quality in all areas of the pitch that other teams simply do not have and that has the side looking big favourites to go on and win the league.

The visitors currently top the Serie A pile with a 3 point margin for error after collecting 42 points and having scored a huge 42 goals, it’s not hard to see why Flamengo are where they are. Unbeaten in 8 matches, of which they’ve won 7, confidence is sky high in visiting ranks and they make this trip to Belo Horizonte fully expecting to secure another victory.

Ultimately, although both teams came into the campaign with title aspirations, it’s clear that only one has met expectations thus far and that’s Flamengo. Cruzeiro look an awful team completely devoid of confidence and the 23 point margin between the two in the table speaks volumes ahead of this match.

All things considered, backing Flamengo to win the match looks to provide excellent value and is exactly where our money is going. Cruzeiro cannot buy a result at the moment and Flamengo should be too strong for them on Saturday, with a 1-0 margin of away victory on the cards.