Cruzeiro v Coritiba

Cruzeiro v Coritiba Preview

Two wins from their last three games in the Brazilian top flight has helped Sunday's hosts, Cruzeiro, up into the top nine pack of the Serie A table and the hosts will want to push on with another three points when they play host to third from bottom side, Coritiba, who currently sit in the relegation zone.

Recent victories against Sao Paulo and Vasco da Gama along with a point gained in a draw with Internacional have turned things around for a Cruzeiro outfit who had previously endured a five-match winless run in the Serie A, including losses to Cuiaba, Atletico Mineiro and Fortaleza, but the visit from Coritiba represents a golden opportunity for Cruzeiro to continue their recent improved form.

Cruzeiro certainly need further improvement to results on home soil though as the hosts have managed to register just three victories out of their last 13 games in the domestic top flight which includes six defeats but the hosts did record a 3-0 win away at Coritiba in their last meeting.

Coritiba have also experienced that winning feeling in recent times in Serie A as the visitors have collected important wins against Goias and America Mineiro in 2-1 and 3-1 victories respectively, so they too will be in confident mood ahead of this upcoming trip to the Estádio Governador Magalhães Pinto.

However, before we get too carried away with Coritiba's seemingly encouraging resurgence, it should be noted that they have managed only these two wins in their last 16 matches overall in the Brazilian top flight which puts their recent successes into perspective and indeed suggests Coritiba therefore face a tough assignment on Sunday morning.

This looks to be definitely the case as Coritiba have registered just two wins in their previous 30 outings on the road, an extremely poor sequence of results that also include no fewer than 24 defeats so the visitors look to have their work cut out if they're to gain even a draw here this Sunday.

Cruzeiro v Coritiba Verdict

Cruzeiro are unbeaten in their last 11 meetings at home against Coritiba which should give the hosts the necessary impetus to record a positive result here this Sunday and considering how poor Coritiba's away form has been over a long period of time, the hosts should be able to take advantage of their visitors' poor defensive unit.

To make matters worse for Coritiba, the visitors have conceded two goals or more in 23 of their 30 away games to date and further goals against them look likely on Sunday at the Estádio Governador Magalhães Pinto.

Therefore, our main bet will be Cruzeiro win @ 1.61

Other side bets worth considering:

Under 2.5 goals @ 1.80

Correct score: Cruzeiro 1-0 @ 6.50