Cruzeiro v Athletico Paranaense: top-four push meets continental chase | OneFootball

Cruzeiro host Athletico Paranaense in the Brasileirão on Sunday, 6 September 2026 at Estádio Governador Magalhães Pinto in Belo Horizonte, with the visitors third on 45 points and the hosts sixth on 39 as both target continental qualification.

Cruzeiro and Athletico Paranaense have traded recent wins in this fixture. Athletico won 2-1 away in March 2026, while Cruzeiro claimed a 2-0 home victory in June 2024.

Cruzeiro arrive on a patchy run with one win in their last five across competitions, including a 2-1 home scalp of Flamengo before a league defeat at Vasco. Athletico-PR, by contrast, are unbeaten in their last four league games, winning away at Santos and Botafogo and drawing with RB Bragantino and Fluminense.

Selection could matter. Cruzeiro are without forwards Bruno Rodrigues, Luis Sinisterra and Gabriel Pec. Athletico-PR miss several defenders, with Gaston Americo Benavidez suspended and Lucas Esquivel sidelined, alongside Gilberto, Léo Derik and Claudinho, trimming full back options.

On the pitch, Raposa have averaged 55% possession with 85.42% passing accuracy and a high volume of open-play crosses at 20.54% accuracy, a platform for Matheus Pereira and Kaio Jorge, both on six league goals. Furacão have scored 37 and conceded 25 with eight clean sheets and 50% shot accuracy. Kevin Viveros leads the league with 17 goals and could test a defence that has shipped 36.

A win would move Cruzeiro to 42 points and could pull them closer to the Libertadores places. Victory would lift Athletico-PR to 48 points and strengthen their grip on the top four. A draw keeps both in the continental mix but preserves the gap between them.