Cuiabá vs Cruzeiro Prediction: Both teams need points

This Round 26 match has been postponed and will take place on this weekend during the international break. The two teams that are 11th and 15th in the Brasileirao standings meet each other. Cuiabá has 32 points while Cruzeiro has 30. The Z4, the relegation zone, is topped by Vasco da Gama, in 17th place with 27 points. Four teams are going down to the Série B, so half the teams in the league are not safe at all due to the great balance of points. Mid-table Cuiabá, with a run of two or three defeats in a row, could quickly end up in the Z4, so getting points at this stage of the season is very important. Both teams need points to remain some distance away from the eye of the hurricane.

The superb 3-0 win against Fluminense ended a run of six games without a win. Curiously, Cuiabá's last win came against Fluminense's rivals, Flamengo, also 3-0. In the upcoming game, the Dourado will be looking to build on its excellent result against a Copa Libertadores finalist and pick up three important points. However, as the Série A prepares to enter its final third, a point gained by a mid-table team isn't necessarily bad. If it loses, Cuiabá will be overtaken by its opponent in the round, so although the home team wants to win, the most important thing is not to lose.

The Fox drew at home to América in the Belo Horizonte derby. It wasn't the result the fans wanted, but it's a normal result in a classic due to the great rivalry. In the last 11 games, Cruzeiro has only managed one win, and the fall to the places close to the Z4 was inevitable. Away from home is where the Mineiros feel most comfortable and where their results are the best. Scoring at the Arena Pantanal is certainly on the minds of the Cruzeiro players. In the event of a defeat, the Fox can be caught up in the standings by Vasco da Gama and Goiás, two teams in a relegation position. Cruzeiro has never won in the only three times the clubs have met. There has been one draw and two wins for Cuiabá, one this season.

Of the three possible outcomes, I'd say a draw is the one I'm most leaning towards. However, Cuiabá's victory over Fluminense has restored its confidence. Cruzeiro is a team used to getting good results on the road, making the prediction for this game quite difficult. I'm betting on a Double Chance in favor of Cuiabá with a maximum of three goals scored in the game.