Stats reveal Cruzeiro’s dip in form without Matheus Pereira this season | OneFootball

Cruzeiro shows a decline in performance in games where Matheus Pereira was not on the field. The difference between the two samples highlights the midfielder's importance in the celestial campaign in 2025.

Throughout 2025, Matheus participated in 46 of the club's 56 matches, during which the team recorded 24 wins, 15 draws, and only 7 losses, achieving a 63% success rate. The team shows more game control, greater offensive volume, and more stable performance in different competitions. The presence of the number 10 ensured better fluidity in the midfield, greater play creation, and consistency that remained even during phases of individual fluctuation.

In the 10 games where the number 10 did not play, Cruzeiro registered only 3 wins, 3 draws, and 4 losses, totaling a 40% success rate — a figure well below what the team achieves with the midfielder available. During this period, the team scored 11 goals, conceded 13, created 12 big chances, but converted only 4 of them. The team also needed 11.3 shots to score a goal (data from Sofascore).

The direct comparison between the two periods reinforces Matheus Pereira's influence on the collective dynamic. With him, Cruzeiro creates more, finishes better, suffers less pressure, and shows a greater ability to control the pace of the matches. Without the midfielder, the team fluctuates more, loses productivity in the central area, and demonstrates less efficiency in finishing, as well as having more difficulty taking advantage of attacking opportunities.

The midfielder will be back for the match against Corinthians next Sunday at 8:30 PM at Mineirão. In 3rd place with 65 points, Cruzeiro is already mathematically qualified for the Libertadores via G5, but now seeks another victory to secure its spot directly through the Brazilian Championship.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.