Fluminense vs Cruzeiro Predictions

• Both teams have netted in four of Fluminense’s last six home games
• Cruzeiro have only failed to score in one of their last 14 matches
• Fluminense have lost just five times in 28 outings at the Maracana

Can Fluminense seize the momentum?

2007 Copa do Brasil champions Fluminense would have hoped for a better draw in the last-16 than this banana skin against Cruzeiro, but they carry a strong home record into the tie.

Fernando Diniz’s side have only lost five of their last 28 games at the Maracana, a run dating back to October, but they do have a problematic leaky defence, keeping only four clean sheets in the most recent 14 of those ties.

Both teams have netted in eight of those matches, and they may struggle to keep a potent Cruzeiro attack quiet in what is likely to be a cagey game.

Cruzeiro hoping for an upset

Cruzeiro, relegated to Serie B for the first time in their history in 2019, are making a strong fist of getting back into Brazil’s top flight, currently sitting top of the table by four points.

They have a strong history in the Copa do Brasil, which they won for a sixth time in 2018, while they have lost just two of their last nine away games in the competition.

In their more recent form they have been almost unstoppable, losing just once in twelve, with that 1-0 defeat to Vasco da Gama the only time in 14 outings they have failed to score.

I think that both teams will net in this game as they are both strong going forward, but I think Cruzeiro could pull off a bit of a result, so select 1-1 as my correct score prediction.