The Brazilian Serie A season is back in full swing after the long mid-season break for the World Cup and Cruzeiro host Botafogo on Sunday with the teams separated by only one point and one place in the table.
Cruzeiro are ahead in eighth place after winning 2-1 at Internacional in their midweek fixture, but with fifth-placed Red Bull Bragantino only three points ahead of them and five clubs, including Botafogo, within two points of catching them, it's all to play for in a congested middle section of the table.
Cruzeiro have won three and drawn one of the teams' last five meetings, but Botafogo's only success in that time was a 4-0 win in their latest clash in January, so the home side may feel they have a score to settle.
Cruzeiro v Botafogo Tips Summary
Best Bet - Cruzeiro to win & both teams to score @ 11/4
Alternative Bet - Matheus Pereira to score or assist @ 10/11
Bet Builder - Over 2 goals, Over 4 cards & Huguinho Moura 2+ shots @ 9/2
Cruzeiro v Botafogo Prediction
Best Bet: Cruzeiro to win & both teams to score @ 11/4
Cruzeiro made a number of changes to their squad over the World Cup break, with eight players leaving, but they returned to action with a 2-1 victory at Internacional to extend their unbeaten run to nine matches.
That win came at a cost, though, as their headline arrival in the transfer window was injured. Gabriel Pec had been picked up from MLS side LA Galaxy for $12m, but he was the victim of a horrible challenge on his debut, suffering a fractured tibia.
Argentinian left-back Gabriel Rojas was their other main signing and he made a solid debut in the Cruzeiro defence.
The Belo Horizonte-based club have been strong at the Mineirao Stadium this season, with their last home defeat coming to Atletico Mineiro in early May, and that was a match they finished with only nine players.
Botafogo have won only one of their last four games and they do their best work at home, with three wins and five losses in their first 10 matches on the road.
They drew 0-0 at home to Vitoria in their midweek fixture, but both teams had scored in their previous four games and that was the first time they had been shut out in seven matches.
With the most goals conceded of any of the top 18 clubs in the standings, defence remains Botafogo's weak spot and they are taken to lose a game in which both teams score.
Alternative Bet: Matheus Pereira to score or assist @ 10/11
Matheus Pereira has had an interesting career, starting out in Portugal with Sporting and playing for Nuremberg in Germany, West Brom in the Premier League and Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia before signing for his home-town club Cruzeiro in 2024.
The attacking midfielder has been in dangerous form in recent games, having the most touches of any player in the midweek win over Internacional and scoring the decisive second goal.
He had also scored against Fluminense in the final game before the break and is worth backing to contribute to a goal against Botafogo too.
Cruzeiro v Botafogo Builder Tip
Over 2 goals
Over 4 cards
Huguinho Moura 2+ shots
Pays 9/2
Start a three-leg bet builder on Sunday's match in Belo Horizonte by expecting at least three goals in the match.
Neither team has the strongest defence and there have been over 2.5 goals in three of Cruzeiro's last four games, while five of Botafogo's last seven matches have produced three or more goals.
Both teams are accustomed to collecting cards and at least five cards is worth including.
Cruzeiro picked up six bookings themselves in their last outing against Internacional, while their opponents attracted a red card for the foul that injured Gabriel Pec.
Botafogo's clash with Bahia just before the break generated nine yellows and a red.
Complete the bet by taking Botafogo's Huguinho Moura to have at least two shots. He fired off five shots in the midweek clash against Vitoria.
Learn more about how Bet Builders work in our Bet Builder guide.
Key Match Stats
Cruzeiro are unbeaten in their last nine matches
Cruzeiro have lost only one of their last nine home games
Botafogo have conceded the most goals of the top 18 teams in Serie A
Botafogo have won only one of the last five meetings between the teams
Both teams have scored in all of Cruzeiro's last six league fixtures
Botafogo have lost five of their 10 away league matches
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
