Chasing second place in the Brasileirão, Cruzeiro take on Ceará | OneFootball

Aiming for the runner-up position in the Brazilian Championship, Cruzeiro faces Ceará this Saturday at 9 PM (Brasília time) at Arena Castelão, in a match valid for the 36th round.

Unbeaten streak and fight for the top

Qualified for the 2026 Libertadores, the Cabuloso is in great form in the competition, with ten consecutive unbeaten matches — four wins and six draws. With 68 points, the team from Minas Gerais is just two points behind the runner-up Palmeiras, which has 70 points and still has one game in hand. An away victory would already place Leonardo Jardim's team in second position.

The triumph also keeps Cruzeiro mathematically alive in the title race. A draw or loss eliminates the team from Minas Gerais from the fight.

Kaio Jorge leads the scoring

In addition to the good moment, Cruzeiro has the top scorer of the Brasileirão: Kaio Jorge, who has scored 21 goals in 2,537 minutes played this season.

Absences, returns, and favorable record

For the match, Jardim will not have Lucas Romero, suspended due to a third yellow card. On the other hand, Fagner returns to the squad after recovering from a right leg fracture. The team also has an advantage in recent history: they haven't lost to Ceará in Fortaleza since 2010.

Ceará pressured by the Z4

On the other side, Ceará continues to fight against relegation. With 42 points, the Alvinegro is only three points ahead of Vitória, the first team in the Z4, and arrives under pressure after two consecutive defeats in the championship.

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