Cruzeiro vs Palmeiras Prediction and Betting Tips | December 4th 2024

Cruzeiro will invite interstate rivals Palmeiras to Mineirão in a crucial Brazilian Serie A clash on Wednesday. The hosts are in ninth place in the league standings and need to avoid a loss here to ensure a top-10 finish. The reigning champions are in second place with 70 points, three fewer than league leaders Botafogo. They need to win their remaining two games to retain their league title.

Celeste are winless in their last four games, playing out two consecutive draws. They played Bragantino on Sunday in their previous league outing and were held to a 1-1 draw. Second-half substitute Ramiro scored the equalizer in the 85th minute.

The visitors hosted Botafogo in their previous outing and suffered a 3-1 loss in the top-of-the-table clash. Marcos Rocha was sent off in the 70th minute and Richard Ríos scored a consolation goal in stoppage time.

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Cruzeiro vs Palmeiras Head-to-Head and Key Numbers

• The two teams have an interstate rivalry and contest the Clássico Palestrino. They have crossed paths 100 times in all competitions. They have contested these meetings closely, with the visitors having a narrow 36-35 lead in wins and 29 games ending in draws.
• Verdão are unbeaten in their last seven meetings against the hosts, recording five wins. They registered a 2-0 home win in the reverse fixture in July.
• Cruzeiro have won just one of their last six home games in the Brazilian Serie A. Interestingly, they have conceded one goal apiece in their last seven league home games.
• Palmeiras have suffered two losses in the Brazilian Serie A since July.
• Eight of the last nine meetings between the two teams have produced under 2.5 goals.
• The hosts are winless in their last four games, scoring one goal apiece.

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Cruzeiro vs Palmeiras Prediction

Celeste have drawn their last two league games and will look to return to winning ways. They have won just two of their last nine home games in all competitions, conceding one goal apiece in these games.

Juan Dinenno, Kaio Jorge, and Matheus Henrique are the three injury concerns for the hosts. Goalscorer from their draw against Leipzig, Ramiro might get the nod to start here.

Verdão suffered a loss in their previous outing and dropped to second place in the league table. They have won five of their last seven away games while keeping four clean sheets and will look to build on that form. While they have won six of their last seven league meetings against Cruzeiro, they have just one away win against the hosts since 2009.

Defenders Gustavo Gómez and Marcos Rocha will serve suspensions here while Bruno Rodrigues and Joaquín Piquerez are nursing injuries.

The visitors have the better goalscoring form this season and, considering their recent record in this fixture, we back them to eke out a narrow win.

Prediction: Cruzeiro 1-2 Palmeiras

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Cruzeiro vs Palmeiras Betting Tips

Tip 1: Result - Palmeiras to win

Tip 2: Goals - Over/Under 2.5 Goals - Over 2.5 goals

Tip 3: At least one goal to be scored in the second half - Yes

Tip 4: Both teams to score - Yes