Cruzeiro lose key starters for Botafogo clash next Sunday | OneFootball

Cruzeiro will have problems putting together the team that will face Botafogo in the next round of the Brazilian Championship. After the 2-1 win over Internacional at Beira-Rio, the Belo Horizonte side lost two starters to suspension and will also have to deal with the absence of Gabriel Pec, who suffered a fractured tibia during the match in Porto Alegre.

Gerson and Matheus Pereira received their third yellow cards in the match against Internacional and are suspended for Cruzeiro’s next Brasileirão fixture. The pair had been important to the team’s structure and will not be available to Artur Jorge for the clash against Botafogo.

Gabriel Pec’s situation is also a concern. The forward left the field in the second half after suffering a hard challenge from Internacional’s Victor Gabriel, who was sent off for the play. Pec had to be substituted and was later diagnosed with a fractured tibia, becoming another absentee for the rest of the season.

With three players unavailable, Artur Jorge will have to look for alternatives to set up the team that takes on Botafogo. The match is scheduled for Sunday (July 26) at 4 p.m. Brasília time at Mineirão, in the 20th round of the Brazilian Championship.

The clash also pits two teams close to each other in the standings against one another. Cruzeiro currently sit seventh with 27 points, while Botafogo are in 10th place with 25. A win at Mineirão could allow Raposa to widen the gap over a direct rival and move closer to the top spots in the table.

In addition to the confirmed absences, Cruzeiro also have three players one booking away from suspension: goalkeeper Otávio, center-back Fabrício Bruno, and midfielder Kauã Moraes.

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