Cruzeiro lose first-choice centre-back duo for clash with Vitória | OneFootball

Cruzeiro will have significant absences in the defensive system for the match against Vitória, scheduled for next Saturday (1st) at 4 PM, at Mineirão, for the 31st round of the Brazilian Championship. Fabrício Bruno and Lucas Villalba, two starting defenders, are out of the game, forcing coach Leonardo Jardim to seek alternatives within the squad.

Villalba will serve an automatic suspension after receiving his third yellow card in the draw with Palmeiras at Allianz Parque. Referee Rafael Klein booked the defender after contact with Vitor Roque, who fell after contesting the ball with Christian. Meanwhile, Fabrício Bruno is also out, having been sent off in the same game due to a second yellow card.

Now, coach Leonardo Jardim needs to completely restructure the defensive line. Among the most likely possibilities, Jonathan Jesus appears as one of the main candidates for the spot, as he was called upon in the match against Palmeiras and has the coaching staff's confidence.

Another alternative is João Marcelo, who has recovered from a knee injury and may return to action after a long period away from the field. The defender has played for 44 minutes since returning from injury, coming on against Vasco and Sport.

In addition to them, Paraguayan defender Gamarra is also available and could be used, though this is less likely. The defender has played in five matches without convincing performances and hasn't been on the field since the game against Unión in the South American Cup in May. A bolder option would be Kauã Prates, a young player from the club's youth system who usually plays as a left-back but also has experience as a defender, having played in that position for the team's Under-20 and the Brazilian youth national team.

Cruzeiro occupies the 3rd position, with 57 points, four behind Flamengo and five behind leader Palmeiras — both still with a game in hand. The match against Vitória is extremely defensive in nature to prevent a possible overtake by Mirassol, who are fourth in the championship. The team from the interior of São Paulo faces Botafogo at home and has 56 points, two less than Cruzeiro.

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