Fluminense are set to play their first match since being eliminated from the Club World Cup, when they take on Cruzeiro on Thursday, 17 July.
Both teams are among the best teams in the Brazilian Serie A, which makes this a true heavyweight clash in South America, and Cruzeiro will feel there is an opening given their opponents' exploits in the USA over the past month.
Coming into the match, Cruzeiro are joint top of the Brazilian Serie A. Fluminense trail by seven points, but they do have two games in hand.
Ahead of kick-off, view our Brazilian Serie A betting tips for the game below.
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Fluminense vs Cruzeiro prediction: Home advantage crucial
Key Stats
- Fluminense have won five of their last six matches against Cruzeiro.
- Cruzeiro have failed to win 50% of their last six matches.
- None of the last five clashes between Fluminense and Cruzeiro have seen both teams get on the scoresheet.
Correct score prediction: Fluminense 2-0 Cruzeiro
Fluminense should be immensely proud of how they performed at the Club World Cup, and if they can bring the kind of form they showed in the USA to their domestic league in Brazil, they will be competing for the title this season. Their recent record against Cruzeiro is formidable, and the visitors will perhaps come into this cold after an extended period without competitive football.
Pre-game odds and win probability: The hosts start as slight favourites
- HOME: 5/4 (2.25) – 44.4%
- DRAW: 21/10 (3.10) – 32.3%
- AWAY: 9/4 (3.25) – 30.8%
*odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change
The Fluminense vs Cruzeiro odds paint a good picture of how evenly matched these two teams are on paper, but they perhaps don't consider the recent H2H record as much as they should. This only adds more value to the Fluminense win, though, with Ladbrokes giving the hosts just a 44.4% chance of victory.
Also, feel free to check out our dedicated Football Betting Tips Today page for other tips over the next 24 hours.
Last five H2Hs: Fluminense domination
As alluded to above, Fluminense have been dominant in this fixture in recent years, which certainly gives them a psychological edge ahead of kick-off. The hosts have won five of their last six matches against Cruzeiro and have only conceded one goal across those five victories. Cruzeiro's only win over Fluminense in the last six years was in June 2024.
Brazil Serie A 04/10/24
Fluminense
Cruzeiro
Brazil Serie A 20/06/24
Cruzeiro
Fluminense
Brazil Serie A 21/09/23
Fluminense
Cruzeiro
Brazil Serie A 11/05/23
Cruzeiro
Fluminense
Copa do Brasil 13/07/22
Cruzeiro
Fluminense
Fluminense preview: Key personnel to return
Fluminense will rue the fact that they had to play their CWC semi-final against Chelsea without Juan Pablo Freytes and Martinelli, but the suspended pair are eligible to play against Cruzeiro. Talented winger, Jhon Arias, is unlikely to be risked as the 27-year-old is on the verge of agreeing a move to Wolves in the English Premier League.
Predicted lineup: Fabio (GK), Xavier, Freytes, Silva, Rene, Martinelli, Nonato, Bernal, Canobbio, Everaldo, Serna
Brazil Serie A 11/05/25
L
Atletico Mineiro
3
Fluminense
2
Copa Sudamericana 09/05/25
L
San Jose de Oruro
1
Fluminense
0
Brazil Serie A 03/05/25
W
Sport Recife
1
Fluminense
2
Copa do Brasil 30/04/25
W
Aparecidense
0
Fluminense
1
Brazil Serie A 27/04/25
L
Botafogo
2
Fluminense
0
Cruzeiro preview: Their turn to deal with a suspension
Cruzeiro will be without Kaiki Bruno for this one as the full-back is on the naughty step for accumulating too many yellow cards. Bruno joins Joao Marcelo and Matheus Henrique on the sidelines, with the pair both out with respective knee injuries.
Predicted lineup: Cassio (GK), William, Bruno, Fagner, Villalba, Silva, Romero, Eduardo, Pereira, Wanderson, Jorge
Brazil Serie A 11/05/25
W
Sport Recife
0
Cruzeiro
4
Copa Sudamericana 08/05/25
D
Mushuc Runa
1
Cruzeiro
1
Brazil Serie A 04/05/25
W
Flamengo
1
Cruzeiro
2
Copa do Brasil 02/05/25
W
Vila Nova
0
Cruzeiro
2
Brazil Serie A 27/04/25
W
Vasco da Gama
0
Cruzeiro
1
Player to watch: Kevin Serna
Kevin Serna had to settle for a place on the bench during the latter stages of the Club World Cup, but injuries and the imminent departure of Arias mean that the Colombian is likely to start the match on Thursday. Serna has scored three goals in the Brazilian Serie A this season, more than any other Fluminense player.