Cruzeiro seeks victory to improve performance against the G8

With four matches without a win at this point in the season and the loss of a title, Cruzeiro will take to the field today (04), against Palmeiras in their last home match of the season looking to improve their performance.

Pressured by the sequence of four games without winning and by the football presented, the team led by Fernando Diniz has an important game in the fight for a place in the pre-group stage of the 2025 Libertadores. With 49 points, Cabuloso is in ninth, outside the zone of classification for Libertadores 2025 after Corinthians' victory over Bahia yesterday (03) at Neo Química Arena.

To do this, the club needs to beat a G8 team, something it has done three times, but which has not happened since the victory against Botafogo in the twentieth round of the Brasileirão, when it won 3-0 at Engenhão, which was the club's last away victory. Fox in Brasileirão.

In total, against G8 teams, Cruzeiro played 15 matches with just three wins, nine defeats and three draws.

Despite being at home, Cruzeiro will not have support from the fans

Cruzeiro, even though they need the result to fight for a place in the Libertadores, will not have their fans present at Mineirão for the duel against Palmeiras. The fact is due to an ambush carried out by a Palmeiras organization against Cruzeiro fans, which left one dead and around 20 injured.

Due to what happened, the Public Ministry of Minas Gerais requested that the game be played with a single crowd, but the CBF opted for the game to be played without an audience due to the fact that Cruzeiro and the Military Police of Minas Gerais did not guarantee the safety of both fans.

_{Decisive duel will not have fans present at Mineirão (Photo: reproduction/Gilson Lobo/AGIF)}

The MP even went to court, but due to the ticket sales time described in the Pelé Law, Cruzeiro will even have to play without its fans present at the stadium.

Both teams regretted the absence of fans for today's duel.

Cabuloso has mystery in the lineup

Cruzeiro has a mystery in its lineup for the upcoming game against Palmeiras. Walace and Gabriel Verón, who were absent due to muscle wastage in the game against Red Bull Bragantino, are doubts for the duel.

Gabriel Verón traveled with the delegation to Bragança Paulista, but did not enter the game due to a medical option. The player was heavily criticized for his performance in the game against Racing in the Copa Sudamericana final. Mateus Vital started in his place in the duel against the São Paulo team. Wallace, in turn, was out for 20 days, but returned to play in the final of the continental competition, but was substituted in the first half and lost space in the starting lineup, but is still an option due to Lucas Romero's suspension.

_{Gabriel Verón is doubtful for the duel against Palmeiras (Photo: reproduction/Gustavo Aleixo/Cruzeiro)}

Another absence is midfielder Barreal, who received his third yellow card and is out of the duel. Without him, Ramiro, who scored the equalizer against Bragantino, is an option in the starting lineup.

For the match against Palmeiras, Fernando Diniz must send the following team: Cássio, William, João Marcelo, Villalba and Marlon; Walace(Japa), Lucas Silva, Ramiro and Matheus Pereira; Gabriel Verón(Mateus Vital) and Lautaro Diaz.

Featured photo: Cruzeiro has not won a match since the victory against Criciúma (Reproduction/ Gilson Lobo/AGIF)