Raphael Durand
Dailysports's expert
One of the matches of the fifth round of the Copa Sudamericana group stage will take place on Thursday at the Mineirão in Belo Horizonte, where local side Cruzeiro will host Chilean club Palestino. Here’s my pick for the outcome of this clash, featuring an attractive odds value.
Match preview
Cruzeiro continues to struggle in the Copa Sudamericana, despite their status as one of the giants of Brazilian football. Their last match against Mushuc Runa ended in a 1-1 draw, which snapped a three-game losing streak but did not improve their standing in the group. The team is already out of playoff contention, having collected just one point and conceding six goals while scoring three.
At home in this tournament, Cruzeiro has played only one match, suffering their only defeat to Mushuc Runa (1-2). Nevertheless, the team continues to rely on their experience and stature, hoping for their first win in front of their own fans. Moreover, Cruzeiro is currently on a four-match home winning streak in all competitions.
Palestino, on the other hand, is confidently navigating the group stage, already amassing nine points, which keeps them among the contenders for first place in the group. Their latest victory over Unión (2-1) marked their third consecutive win in the tournament, highlighting the squad’s fine form. The Chileans have been clinical in front of goal, netting eight times and conceding five in four matches.
However, Palestino’s form on the road has been less consistent, as shown in the match against Mushuc Runa (2-3). In the Chilean Cup last weekend, they also failed to win, drawing 2-2 with Audax Italiano. Still, over their last four matches, Palestino have not lost, picking up two wins in that span.
Probable lineups
- Cruzeiro: Cassio, Fagner, Fabio Bruno, Luis Villalba, Kaiki, Carlos Eduardo, Luis Silva, Cristian, Matheus Pereira, Wanderson, Kaio Jorge
- Palestino: Juan Marabel, Joaquin Benitez, Joaquin Abrigo, Bryan Carrasco, Agustin Martinez, Jose Fernandez, Victor Espinoza, Cristian Suarez, Fabian Meza, Dylan Zuniga, Sebastian Perez
Match facts and head-to-head
- In the first round, Palestino defeated Cruzeiro 2-1
- The “Both teams to score” bet landed in two of Cruzeiro’s five matches
- The “Both teams to score” market has hit in each of Palestino’s last five matches
Prediction
Bookmakers are offering odds of 2.03 for a Cruzeiro win, but backing the result here is risky. After all, the Brazilian side has failed to impress in this tournament. Instead, we recommend the "Both teams to score" bet at odds of 1.73.
