Cruzeiro lose three starters to suspension for clash with Juventude | OneFootball

Cruzeiro will have three important absences for the match against Juventude, in the 34th round of the Brazilian Championship. Midfielder Christian, playmaker Matheus Pereira, and forward Keny Arroyo received their third yellow card in the goalless draw with Fluminense last Sunday (9th), and are suspended.

The team led by Leonardo Jardim will return to the field only after the break for the FIFA Date. The match against the team from Rio Grande do Sul is scheduled for November 20th, a Thursday, at 4 p.m. (Brasília time), at Alfredo Jaconi Stadium, in Caxias do Sul.

With these absences, coach Leonardo Jardim will need to make several changes in the midfield and attack. The tendency is for Eduardo, who started against Fluminense in place of Lucas Silva, to be one of the options to replace Christian.

Another possibility is the Colombian Sinisterra, who is regaining his rhythm after muscle problems. The forward took part in recent matches against Vitória, Grêmio, and Fluminense, always coming on in the second half, and may get more minutes in Caxias do Sul. Japa also appears as an option for the midfield. A product of Toca da Raposa, the player recently returned to action after being sidelined for six months with a left thigh tendon injury and came on in the final stretch of the game against Vitória.

For Matheus Pereira's spot, Gabriel Barbosa emerges as the main option. The forward has already played several times replacing the playmaker in a deeper role, alongside Kaio Jorge.

Other absences

In addition to the suspensions, Leonardo Jardim also cannot count on forwards Wanderson and Marquinhos, who are out due to physical issues. The former is treating an injury to the hamstring muscles of his left thigh, while the latter is recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. Midfielder Matheus Henrique is also still undergoing treatment, recovering from a rib fracture.

Besides the three absent starters, midfielder Wallace also received his third yellow card against Fluminense and will not be able to play in Caxias do Sul. Cruzeiro remains in 3rd place in the Brazilian Championship, with 64 points.

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