Cruzeiro vs Barcelona SC Prediction: Guayaquil hero Pereira to pop up again

Cruzeiro can sneak top spot in Copa Libertadores Group D if they beat Barcelona SC at the Mineirao and leaders Universidad Catolica fail to win at Boca Juniors in the final round of fixtures.

Below are my Cruzeiro vs Barcelona SC predictions, alongside all the latest team news and match odds, ahead of this Brazil-Ecuador clash in Belo Horizonte (9:30pm local Thursday, 1:30am BST Friday).

Team News

Cruzeiro midfielder Gerson is suspended after being sent off in last week's 1-1 draw at Boca Juniors, while Cassio (knee) and Kaua Prates (hamstring) are out injured.

Keny Arroyo is available again after serving a suspension against Boca Juniors.

Football Odds

Jhonnier Chala is banned for Barcelona SC following his dismissal in last week's 2-0 loss at Universidad Catolica, while Jefferson Intriago (knee) and Dario Benedetto (muscle) miss out due to injury.

Head-to-head record

Cruzeiro and Barcelona SC met for the first time last month, with the former prevailing 1-0 at the Estadio Monumental Banco Pichincha in Guayaquil thanks to Matheus Pereira’s 53rd-minute strike.

Cruzeiro vs Barcelona SC Odds

Cruzeiro, who lost their first home game in the group 2-1 to Universidad Catolica before beating Boca Juniors 1-0 last time out in Belo Horizonte, are 1/4 favourites, implying an 80% probability of success.

Barcelona SC, who have lost four of their five group matches, including both away from home (1-0 Independiente del Valle, 2-1 Universidad Catolica), are 10/1, or a 9.1% chance, to pick up all three points, with the draw offered at 4/1.

To Win to Nil - Cruzeiro @ 8/11

Barcelona SC have endured a wretched Libertadores group campaign, losing four of their five games so far, including both away from home, with a 1-0 victory over Boca Juniors in Guayaquil on 6 May the only saving grace.

The Ecuadorian side have scored only twice in Group D, netting once in that win over the Argentine giants, and once in a 2-1 home defeat to Universidad Catolica on 30 April.

They've failed to score on their travels, losing 3-0 at Boca Juniors on 15 April and 2-0 at Universidad Catolica on 22 May, and it's difficult to imagine them breaching Cruzeiro's defence at the Mineirao, having mustered just two shots on target in a 1-0 loss to the same opposition on home soil last month.

Cruzeiro have only conceded three goals in five group games, keeping three clean sheets, including one last time out at home as they beat Boca Juniors 1-0 on 29 April.

The visitors have nothing to play for here, while Cruzeiro are looking to confirm a top-two finish and push for first, so I have this one down as a fairly comfortable win for the Brazilians, who can record another shutout in the process.

Anytime Goalscorer - Matheus Pereira (CRU) @ 11/8

Cruzeiro playmaker Pereira has hardly been prolific this year, netting just five times, but two of those goals have come in five Libertadores appearances, and the first was the only goal of the game in Guayaquil on 8 April as Barcelona SC were beaten 1-0.

The 30-year-old, who missed out on the Brazil World Cup squad named by Carlo Ancelotti earlier this month, hasn't scored since dispatching a spot-kick in Cruzeiro's 2-1 home defeat to Universidad Catolica on 15 April, going 10 games without a goal.

So, in what is pretty much a must-win match, at home to a side who have nothing to play for, this looks like an opportune time to get back in the goalscoring groove.

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