Barcelona vs. Cruzeiro – News and Probable Lineups

Cruzeiro makes their return to Copa Libertadores action for the first time in six years as they face Barcelona SC at the Estadio Monumental Banco Pichincha this Tuesday evening.

Having navigated through the qualifying rounds to reach the group stage, the Ecuadorian side will compete against Cruzeiro, Boca Juniors, and Universidad Catolica in a challenging Group D. Therefore, securing a win in their opening match is vital for their aspirations of progressing.

Match overview

Similarly to 2025, when they earned a place in the group stages of the Copa Libertadores by defeating a Brazilian team in the qualifiers, Barcelona SC triumphed over Argentinos Juniors in the first qualifying round, subsequently advancing with a 2-1 aggregate victory against Botafogo in March.

After a disappointing season last year, where they finished last in Group B under previous head coach Segundo Castillo, the Ecuadorian squad is determined to reach the knockout stages this season, with Venezuelan manager Cesar Farias entrusted with this mission.

In the domestic league, the Toreros have made a solid start to the Ecuadorian LigaPro Serie A, achieving three wins and three draws in their first seven games, currently placing them third in the standings, tied on 12 points with second-placed Universidad Catolica.

Farias’s side last played on Friday, securing a 2-0 victory against LDU at the Estadio Rodrigo Paz Delgado, with goals from Hector Villalba and Jhonny Quinonez in a strong team performance.

Barcelona now heads back home, where they have struggled for consistency this term, managing only two victories out of five matches, including a notable 1-0 loss to Argentinos Juniors and a 1-1 draw with Botafogo in the Libertadores qualifiers.

With an aim for their third Copa Libertadores title, Cruzeiro enters this continental tournament following a heavy 4-1 defeat to Sao Paulo in their recent Brasileirao match, further exacerbating their poor form.

This match marks the second for newly appointed head coach Artur Jorge, and Friday’s result reflected their fifth defeat in the league this season, just one shy of their total losses from the 2025 season, in which they earned a commendable third-place finish.

With only one win from their last six matches in all competitions, Cruzeiro will be eager to turn things around on Tuesday as they compete in the Libertadores for the first time since 2019. In that year, they accomplished five wins out of six games in a remarkable group-stage showing before being eliminated in the round of 16 by River Plate.

Currently having their worst start to a Brasileirao season in the club’s history, Jorge’s side has recorded only nine wins and suffered eight losses in 21 matches across all competitions since the start of the year, while netting 30 goals and conceding 28.

While Cruzeiro aims to kick off their Libertadores campaign positively, they have lost nine of their last 16 encounters against Ecuadorian opposition, and this matchup adds an element of excitement as both teams face each other for the very first time.

Team News

Farias has mostly employed a 3-5-2 formation this season, and it is likely he will retain the same starting XI that won against LDU last weekend.

Argentine forward Dario Benedetto and 26-year-old Luis Cano have formed a formidable partnership in attack and will aim to deliver once more.

In terms of injuries, Joao Rojas remains the sole concern ahead of Tuesday, with the 28-year-old scheduled for reassessment after being rested against LDU due to a knee issue.

Cruzeiro, by contrast, will miss several key players, including Brazilian goalkeeper Cassio, who will be sidelined for the rest of the year due to a serious ligament injury.

Also on the injury list are Marquinhos and Luis Sinisterra, while Lucas Romero is doubtful after missing the match against Sao Paulo due to a thigh injury.

Barcelona SC probable starting XI:

Contreras; Carabali, Rangel, Baez, Sosa, Vallecilla; Celiz, Lugo, Quinonez; Cano, Benedetto

Cruzeiro probable starting XI:

Wedge; William, Bruno, Villalba, Kaiki; Henrique, Gerson; Arroyo, Pereira, Christian; George

With an average of 0.4 goals conceded in their past 10 matches, Barcelona has proven to be resilient defensively. Given Cruzeiro’s struggle under Artur Jorge, it’s anticipated that both teams may cancel each other out and end up sharing the points.