CD Lara vs Cruzeiro Predictions

Tuesday’s Copa Libertadores group stage action sees Venezuelans CD Lara doing battle with Brazilians Cruzeiro. The visitors arrive looking to maintain their perfect record in the competition so far this year and are expected to do exactly that.

After they finished bottom of their Libertadores group last season and looked well short of the standard required, little was expected of Lara in this year’s edition of the competition but they come into Tuesday’s game with every chance of advancing. After 4 games, the side have 5 points and that currently has them 2nd but they arrive knowing defeat in this match would severely damage their hopes of making the last 16.

Lara have hardly been overly impressive in the Libertadores so far but to even be in the position they’re in is a considerable achievement, considering they have by far the least resources of the sides in the group. Nonetheless, having lost back to back domestic matches in the build up to this game, the hosts don’t have a great deal of momentum behind them and that does leave their prospects looking somewhat bleak.

Meanwhile, Cruzeiro have been one of the Libertadores’ standout outfits in the action we’ve seen so far and they take to Venezuelan soil with a 100% record in the group. The Brazilians were expected to win the group comfortably but even so, the fact they’ve won all four of their matches whilst scoring 8 times and conceding no goals is very impressive.

It’s not just the Libertadores Cruzeiro are impressing in either and they look set for a successful year across all fronts. The visitors are in outstanding form and have now won 12 of their last 13 games, a streak they’ll be desperate to build upon on Tuesday with yet another victory.

Ultimately, this is a match Lara really need to take something from but are huge underdogs in. Cruzeiro are by far the better of the two sides on paper and in rampant form, the hosts face a huge task as regards avoiding defeat.

All things considered, although they’re already through, we still think Cruzeiro will win this match and like the look of backing their victory being to nil. With the last 16 draw seeded by number of points obtained, Cruzeiro still have reason to play for the win and having conceded just twice during their last 13 matches, a 1-0 away victory could well be on the cards.