Cruzeiro vs Botafogo Prediction & Betting Tips - Brasileirão Serie A

Prediction published on 04/08/2023, 15:55  by Devesh Jaganath in Football Predictions

Tenth-placed Cruzeiro will play host to the league leaders Botafogo in the Brazilian Serie A on Sunday. The hosts played out a 3-3 draw against Athletico Paranaense last week, which extended their recent winless run to three matches, including two draws and a loss. Looking further back, they have only managed two wins in their last ten league games. Cruzeiro have struggled in front of goal in recent times, having failed to score in seven of their last ten matches, including four of their last five on home soil. Over the course of the season, Cruzeiro have won three, drawn one, and lost five of their nine matches and come into this fixture winless in their last two. Cruzeiro have not faced Botafogo since 2019; however, up to that point, they were unbeaten by the visitors in their last eight encounters. Despite the gap in league position, Cruzeiro are the favourites to win this match, according to the bookies.

Meanwhile, Botafogo have been head and shoulders better than any other side in Serie A this season and come into this match with a commanding lead atop the league table. The visitors won their last league match 4-1 against Coritiba, which saw them maintain their 12-point lead over Flamengo and Palmeiras in second and third, respectively. Botafogo are unbeaten in their last eight league matches and 13 in all competitions. They have also scored two or more goals in each of their last five league matches. In away games, the visitors are unbeaten in their last four, with three wins and a draw, though they have conceded two losses in their eight away matches this season. While they are carrying the title of underdog into this contest, with the form they are in, they will certainly fancy pulling off an upset on the bookmakers in this one.