Two sides on the opposing ends of the Brasileirao Serie A table face off, as third-placed Cruzeiro travel to third-from-bottom Juventude on Thursday, 20 November.
Keep close tabs on our Brasileirao Serie A predictions after viewing our key Juventude vs Cruzeiro tips below.
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Juventude vs Cruzeiro prediction: La Bestia Negra to comfortably beat the Verdao
Key stats
- Juventude are on a two-match winning streak in the Brazilian top-flight.
- The Alviverde have claimed two clean sheets in their last three wins.
- Cruzeiro are unbeaten in eight straight top-flight fixtures (D5, W3).
- La Bestia Negra have conceded the second-fewest goals this season, 22.
Correct score prediction: Juventude 1-3 Cruzeiro
After consecutive losses in the top-flight, Juventude bounced back with aplomb with successive victories over Sport Recife and Vasco respectively. Alfredo Jaconi’s side stand the chance of winning three on the trot in the top division for the first time this calenda year, but the visitors are well-equipped to dishearten the home faithful.
Leonardo Jardim’s Cruzeiro sit in third place with five fixtures left, and remain unbeaten in eight straight games, with their previous defeat coming at the hands of Vasco in late September.
The momentum clearly lies with Cruzeiro, who are playing catch-up with league leaders Flamengo and projected runners-up Palmeiras. Expect the visitors to beat Juventude by a healthy margin.
Pre-game odds and win probability: Visitors with the upper hand
- HOME: 16/5 (4.20) – 23.8%
- DRAW: 12/5 (3.40) – 29.4%
- AWAY: 10/11 (1.90) – 52.6%
*odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change
Juventude have struggled at home in recent outings, winning just once across their last six fixtures in the Brazilian top-flight. They are assigned 16/5 (4.20) odds of victory – indicating a 23.8% probability of victory in Sao Paulo.
The Belo Horizonte outfit are still mathematically in the title race, although their eight-match unbeaten consists of five draws. Priced at 10/11 (1.90), suggesting a majority 52.6% win probability rate, Cruzeiro have the bookmakers backing them.
Visit our football betting tips page for more free predictions.
Most recent H2Hs: Fourth Cruzeiro win on the trot?
The two sides have faced each other 28 times, with Cruzeiro emerging victorious in 15 H2Hs, while Juventude have won on seven occasions. The last time they met in Serie A, Cruzeiro won 4-0 away at Juventude.
Brazil Serie A 08/12/24
EC Juventude
Cruzeiro
Brazil Serie A 24/07/24
Cruzeiro
EC Juventude
Brazil Serie B 16/01/21
EC Juventude
Cruzeiro
Brazil Serie B 17/10/20
Cruzeiro
EC Juventude
Juventude preview: Looking for a way out of the drop zone
Juventude’ pursuit of all three points against Cruzeiro will have to do without the likes of six players: Nata, Gilberto, Emerson Galego, Caique and Wilker Angel. Rodrigo Sam is suspended for accumulation of yellow cards
Predicted lineup: Jandrei (GK), Angel, Sam, Freitas, Marques, Caique, Peixoto, Hermes, Bilu, Bill & Nene
Last five matches:
- Vasco 1-3 Juventude (Brasileirao Serie A)
- Sport Recife 0-2 Juventude (Brasileirao Serie A)
- Juventude 0-2 Palmeiras (Brasileirao Serie A)
- Gremio 3-1 Juventude (Brasileirao Serie A)
- Juventude 1-0 RB Bragantino (Brasileirao Serie A)
Cruzeiro preview: Injuries and suspensions alike
Four players sit out due to suspensions due to yellow-card accumulation: Matheus Pereira, Keny Arroya, Christian Cardoso and Walace. Meanwhile, they also have four missing due to injury – they are Fagner, Matheus Henique, Marquinhos and Wanderson.
Predicted lineup: Cassio (GK), Kaiki, Villalba, Bruno, William, Romero, Eduardo, Guilherme, Japa, Cardoso & Jorge
Last five matches:
- Cruzeiro 0-0 Fluminense (Brasileirao Serie A)
- Gremio 0-1 Cruzeiro (Brasileirao Serie A)
- Cruzeiro 3-1 Vitoria (Brasileirao Serie A)
- Palmeiras 0-0 Cruzeiro (Brasileirao Serie A)
- Cruzeiro 1-0 Fortaleza (Brasileirao Serie A)
Player to watch: Kaio Jorge
Tied with Giorgian de Arrascaeta on 17 strikes at the top of the Brasileirao Serie A goalscoring charts, Kaio Jorge will be eager to take over his Flamengo counterpart with only a few games remaining. He last netted a brace in the 3-1 win over Vitoria, but has since fired blanks in back-to-back outings.