Vasco da Gama vs Cruzeiro Predictions

Sunday’s Brazilian Serie A action sees relegation threatened Vasco da Gama doing battle with Cruzeiro. The hosts will be looking to take advantage of the changes set to be made in visiting ranks in order to claim a crucial win.

Whilst Vasco have done well to end a run of 4 straight defeats by going 5 matches unbeaten, with just 1 of said 5 games having ended in victory, they cannot quite pull away from the relegation danger that continues to linger. Currently stationed just 2 points and 2 places above the drop zone, it’s clear that Almirante need to start winning sooner rather than later.

In a season plagued by off the pitch turmoil, all Vasco can focus on in the remaining 10 games in staying in the top flight. After a gruelling set of 3 consecutive away matches, all of which ended 1-1, the hosts will be pleased to return to the Estádio São Januário and will be confident of a picking up a good result there on Sunday, given they have lost just 1 of the last 6 games there, winning 3 times in the process.

Meanwhile, whilst in nowhere near as concerning a position as Vasco, Cruzeiro’s season has hardly gone to plan. Raposa, who possess one of the division’s strongest squads on paper, had hope to challenge for the title but consistency issues currently has them sitting 9th, some 19 points behind leaders Palmeiras.

As such, all of the visitors’ focus is now firmly on the Copa do Brasil final against Corinthians, meaning a reserve team will be fielded in this trip to Rio. Cruzeiro took a 1-0 lead in the first leg of said clash midweek, but know they’ll need plenty of energy about them to defend it in the return leg and for that reason, almost no importance is being given to this game against Vasco.

Ultimately, considering Cruzeiro have won just 1 of their last 7 away games, you’d rate Vasco’s chances fairly high in this one even if the visitors were at full strength, but the raft of changes set to be made plays straight into the hosts’ hands and in their current predicament, they simply have to take advantage.

All things considered, backing a home win looks to provide excellent value and is where our money is going. Vasco have won 8 of their last 15 home matches and have looked an improved outfit in recent weeks and should have too much for an unmotivated Cruzeiro side, with a 2-1 margin of home victory on the cards.