Athletico Paranaense vs Cruzeiro – Match Preview

Athletico Paranaense is set to host Cruzeiro at the historic Independencia stadium. This encounter is for the 31st round of the Serie A tournament, happening on Thursday, October 26th. The game kicks off at 21:30 GMT. Athletico Paranaense finds itself in 18th place, holding 31 points. They are under pressure to move out of the relegation zone. This is especially true after not meeting preseason expectations. Cruzeiro, in a more comfortable 8th position with 44 points, aims to improve their standing. They hope to exceed their initial forecasts. This match holds significant importance for both teams. Athletico is desperate for a win at home to enhance their survival chances. Cruzeiro seeks a victory to continue their climb up the table.

Athletico Paranaense – Form

The recent form of Athletico Paranaense raises concerns, with three consecutive Serie A losses. They faced a 1-0 defeat against Fluminense on October 22. This result was expected by bookmakers. Before this, they encountered a heavy 5-2 loss to Corinthians. They also suffered a disappointing 1-0 home defeat to Botafogo RJ. The team has struggled to score in their last two matches. Meanwhile, their defense has been breached multiple times. This indicates a potential vulnerability they’ll want to address in their next game.

Cruzeiro – Form

Cruzeiro’s recent performances have been inconsistent, with the last three games ending without a win. They drew 1:1 with Lanus on October 23rd. Before this, they had a 1:1 stalemate with Bahia on October 19th, a result that met bookmakers’ expectations. Their away game against Fluminense on October 4th ended in a 1:0 defeat, despite a strong effort. Bookmakers had accurately predicted the outcomes of all three matches. This indicates a period of predictable performances for Cruzeiro.

Athletico Paranaense – Cruzeiro – Head to Head

The last game between Athletico Paranaense and Cruzeiro was on June 26, 2024. Cruzeiro won 2:0 in the Serie A competition. In their last 10 meetings, Athletico Paranaense has won twice, and Cruzeiro has won four times. This gives Cruzeiro a slight advantage in these encounters. In the most recent five matchups, both teams scored in three games. This shows the competitive nature of these fixtures. Notably, 15 of the last 17 matches between them had fewer than 3.5 goals. Athletico Paranaense has not won in 9 of their last 11 encounters with Cruzeiro. However, they have scored in 9 of their last 11 home matches against them.

Athletico Paranaense – Cruzeiro – Standings

As we near Round 31 of Serie A at the Estádio Independência, the standings highlight contrasting fortunes. Athletico Paranaense is in a challenging 18th position with 31 points from 29 matches. Their negative goal difference (29 scored, 37 conceded) reflects underperformance compared to preseason expectations. Cruzeiro, in contrast, is in a stable 8th place with 44 points from 30 matches. Their positive goal differential (36 scored, 30 conceded) aligns with their mid-table finish expectations. Yet, they aim for an even higher position as the season advances.

Athletico Paranaense vs Cruzeiro – Top scorers

The home team’s attack will be led by Agustin Canobbio and Gonzalo Mastriani. Both forwards have scored 4 goals each in Serie A this season. They are supported by dynamic midfielder Nikao, and forwards Julimar and Lucas Di Yorio. Each has contributed 3 goals. Their scoring ability will be key in the upcoming match.

For the away side, Matheus Pereira is the leading scorer with 6 goals. Defender William has also been a surprising source of goals, with 5 to his name. Forward Gabriel Veron has matched William with 5 goals. Rafael Silva and Juan Dinenno have each added 3 goals to their season’s tally. Their collective goal-scoring threat will test the home side’s defense.

Athletico Paranaense vs Cruzeiro – Full-Time Betting

Athletico Paranaense, despite playing at home, has odds of 2.05 for a win. They are not the favorites against Cruzeiro, who have odds of 3.80. The odds for a draw are 3.25. Cruzeiro’s higher position in Serie A and better head-to-head record make them the likely victors. Athletico’s recent losses and Lucas Esquivel’s suspension could impact their performance. This suggests Cruzeiro might secure the win.

For those looking for alternative bets, the “halftime-fulltime” market offers odds of 2.75 for a home win at halftime. The “draw-no-bet” market provides odds of 1.444 for Athletico Paranaense and 2.625 for Cruzeiro. This offers a safety net in case of a draw. The “double-chance” market, offering 1.333 for a Cruzeiro win or draw, presents less risky bets. This reflects their consistent performance this season.

Athletico Paranaense vs Cruzeiro – Over/Under Betting

Recent matches between Athletico Paranaense and Cruzeiro have seen fewer goals, with 15 of the last 17 matches having under 3.5 goals. Athletico Paranaense, 18th in Serie A, has scored 29 goals and conceded 37. Cruzeiro, in 8th place, has a slightly better goal difference. Given both teams’ form and their history, the “Under 2.5” goals at odds of 1.65 seems a wise choice. However, with Athletico Paranaense’s ability to score at home in recent clashes with Cruzeiro, the “Over 2.5” goals option at 2.2 could offer value, anticipating a break from the trend.

Athletico Paranaense vs Cruzeiro – BTTS Betting

The BTTS market for this clash is balanced, with “btts:true” at 1.95 and “btts:false” at 1.80. Historically, these two teams often engage in low-scoring games. Athletico Paranaense’s recent home record and the scoring in previous meetings suggest “BTTS: No” might be the more likely outcome.

Athletico Paranaense vs Cruzeiro – Prediction