On Thursday, Juventude will face Cruzeiro in a crucial match at Estadio Alfredo Jaconi, aiming to escape relegation in the Brasileiro Serie A. Juventude currently sits four points from safety after a recent 3-1 victory over Vasco da Gama. In contrast, Cruzeiro holds a strong position in third place, following a goalless draw against Fluminense.
Match Preview
With the season nearing its conclusion, Juventude’s hopes of staying in the top flight are still alive, though they are on thin ice. Their recent form shows promise, as they have achieved back-to-back victories, conceding only one goal in their last two matches. They seek their first home win since defeating Bragantino 1-0 in October, where their defense limited the opponents to just one shot on target.
Throughout the season, Juventude has struggled defensively, allowing 59 goals over 33 games, barely above Sport Recife, who have conceded 60. Interestingly, Juventude has secured points in most of their Serie A matches this season when scoring multiple goals. They have been successful in three of their last four home encounters against Cruzeiro in both Serie A and B.
Cruzeiro’s Consistency
Cruzeiro, managed by Leonardo Jardim, has displayed significant consistency in recent months, earning points in 13 of their last 14 matches. They are currently unbeaten in eight consecutive league games. The team has also been effective away, picking up points in their last four games on the road. A win on Thursday would match their longest winning streak of the season.
With five matches remaining, Cruzeiro is seven points behind the league leaders, Flamengo, and has already surpassed their point total from the previous season. Defensively, they have one of the strongest records in the league, allowing only 22 goals so far this season. Notably, Cruzeiro has achieved three consecutive wins against Juventude, outscoring them 7-0 over those matches.
Team News
- Juventude: Gilberto will miss the match due to muscular issues; Nata Felipe and Galego are also doubtful.
- Cruzeiro: Wanderson, Matheus Henrique, Marquinhos, and Fagner are likely unavailable due to injuries.
Marcelo Hermes, Nene, and Ewerthon were key in Juventude’s recent win against Vasco, helping to secure a comfortable victory after coming from behind.
Possible Lineups
Juventude
- Jandrei
- Freitas
- Sam
- Angel
- Ewerthon
- Goncalves
- Jadson
- Hermes
- Nene
- Giovanny
- Taliari
Cruzeiro
- Cassio
- William
- F. Bruno
- Villalba
- K. Bruno
- Romero
- Walace
- Christian
- Pereira
- Arroyo
- Jorge
Final Prediction
While Juventude has shown resilience lately, Cruzeiro’s well-organized defense poses a significant challenge. Our prediction leans toward a narrow victory for Cruzeiro, concluding the match 1-0.
