Verdict: Cruzeiro draw no bet
Best Odds: 7/10
Bookmaker: Luckster
Two sides who find themselves scrapping it out at opposite ends of the Serie A standings, Cruzeiro will travel to Salvador late on Thursday night when they meet Vitoria.
Vitoria
Starting with the hosts, while some in Vitoria’s camp might have opened up the 2025 campaign with their sights set on mounting another genuine top-half charge, Thiago Carpini’s camp have drastically failed to find any kind of stability. Getting the midweek fixtures underway with just their goal difference keeping them outside the relegation zone, the former Sao Paulo boss appears to have a real job on his hands this season. g off May with a 1-0 defeat at home against Santos, the Salvador-based outfit have collected just a single point from any of their previous four appearances across all competitions. Facing what looks set to be another stern examination here, it should also be highlighted that Vitoria have failed to find the net in over 300 minutes of action.
Vitoria Team News
All shown what were costly bookings away at Corinthians last week, the trio of Ricardo Ryller, Janderson and former Botafogo defender Lucas Halter will miss out through suspension here. However, serving his own respective one-match ban last time out, Matheuzinho will return to Carpini’s squad on Thursday night.
Completing a loan switch from Atletico GO this year, Baralhas will partner Ronald Lopes in the middle of the park. Despite still waiting to open his Serie A this season, ex-Levante striker Fabricio could be handed a recall and lead the line.
Cruzeiro
As for the visitors, while Cruzeiro might have eventually fallen short last season as they missed out on a Copa Libertadores ticket, the Foxes have enjoyed a remarkable start to proceedings this time around. With the mood in their camp at a red-hot high, Leonardo Jardim’s men open the midweek fixtures sat just one-point adrift of climbing to the top of the Serie A table. Rightfully receiving a string of plaudits from across Brazil’s elite since opening up the 2025 campaign, Cruzeiro have put 23 points on the board from their 11 top-flight appearances. Last seen laying down another heavyweight marker as they clinched a 2-1 win at home against Palmeiras, Thursday’s guests should be smelling the chance to extend on their sensational early title charge.
Cruzeiro Team News
After serving a one-match suspension last week, Argentinian defender Lucas Villalba will return to Jardim’s squad here. However, both dealing with respective long-term injury issues, Cruzeiro will be without the duo of Joao Marcelo and Matheus Henrique on Thursday night.
Bagging both goals in last week’s 2-1 win against Palmeiras and continuing to shine since arriving from Juventus last year, 23-year-old Kaio Jorge will lead the line. One-time West Brom ace Matheus Pereira will partner Jorge in the final third.
Key Factors to Consider
- Cruzeiro are unbeaten in all of their last 19 straight meetings against Vitoria across all competitions – a run that stems all the way back to August 2010.
- Thursday’s hosts open the midweek fixtures sat just one-point adrift of climbing to the top of the Serie A table.
- Vitoria have collected just a single point from their previous four appearances across all competitions.
- Cruzeiro have won their last three away fixtures by an aggregate score of 9-0.
- Vitoria have failed to find the net in over 300 minutes of action.
Conclusion
Laying down what was a real statement of intent last week as they clinched a 2-1 victory against Palmeiras, Cruzeiro have their sights set on climbing to the top of the Serie A table here. Flying out of the traps since opening up the 2025 campaign and riding a major wave of momentum, Thursday’s guests should be smelling a real opportunity in Salvador. Likewise, with the title contenders winning their last three consecutive matchups on the road by an aggregate score of 9-0, we are backing an away draw no bet in midweek.
Verdict: Cruzeiro draw no bet
Best Odds: 7/10
Bookmaker: Luckster
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