On Saturday night, out-of-form Vasco Da Gama hosts Cruzeiro at the Estadio Sao Januario in the Brazilian Serie A.
The home team’s recent form has been poor, as they go into this clash on the back of seven defeats in their previous eight matches in the Brazilian top flight.
O elenco Cruzmaltino treinou nesta terça-feira, no CT Moacyr Barbosa, com foco no duelo com o Cruzeiro ✔📸: Daniel Ramalho | #VascoDaGama pic.twitter.com/7DehKk6kvA— Vasco da Gama (@VascodaGama) July 4, 2023
O elenco Cruzmaltino treinou nesta terça-feira, no CT Moacyr Barbosa, com foco no duelo com o Cruzeiro ✔📸: Daniel Ramalho | #VascoDaGama pic.twitter.com/7DehKk6kvA
Their main issue has been in defence, where they have conceded at least two goals in five of their last seven league matches.
Unsurprisingly, their recent poor form has led to Vasco falling to 18th place in the Serie A standings and into one of the four relegation berths.
However, they are just two points from the safety of 16th place.
Vasco enjoyed a slight positive in their last home match in Serie A, as they ended a four-game losing streak on home soil by recording a 1-0 win over Cuiaba. The game also saw the home side score just their second home goal in five outings.
The visitors are in 12th place in the table, currently occupying one of the spots that would see them qualify for the Copa Sudamericana for next season.
However, it’s too early in the league campaign to talk about continental qualification, especially when they are just five points adrift of the Copa Libertadores spots in Serie A.
If the visitors are to climb the table, though, their form will have to improve, as Cruzeiro has won just once in their last nine games in all competitions.
That record includes winning just once in seven outings in Serie A.
Cruzeiro have been tough to beat on their travels in the Brazilian top flight, as they are unbeaten in their previous five away matches in Serie A.
Forebet predicts that Cruzeiro will record a victory in a low-scoring outing to potentially shoot right up the table.