Catholic University vs Cruzeiro – News and Probable Lineups

On Thursday, Universidad Catolica will host Cruzeiro in a match featuring two prominent South American teams, both facing pressure within a tightly contested group.

In Group D of the Copa Libertadores, every minor detail holds the potential to sway the battle for knockout qualification.

The match is set to take place at the Claro Arena in Santiago, Chile. Catolica will rely on their home advantage and recent form, while Cruzeiro aims to rectify their inconsistency at a crucial phase of their campaign.

Match overview

Universidad Catolica tops Group D with six points accrued from three matches—two wins and one loss—having netted five goals and conceded four.

The tie with Boca Juniors and Cruzeiro adds to the importance of tiebreakers, where the Chileans have a slight advantage: they have scored three goals in encounters among the trio, compared to two for each opponent.

Resilience has characterized their campaign. Following a defeat to Boca Juniors, Catolica responded with victories against Cruzeiro (2–1, with goals from Justo Gianni and Jimmy Martínez) and Barcelona (2–1, with Zampedri and Clemente Montes contributing).

In preparation for this fixture, head coach Daniel Oscar Garnero opted to rest his starting players during the 2–2 draw with Universidad Concepcion in the Copa de la Liga. He is anticipated to deploy a full-strength lineup at home, recognizing the significance of a favorable result for their round-of-16 aspirations.

Leading their attack, Fernando Zampedri is expected to remain a key player, boasting 18 goals in 2025—including six in his last ten outings. Alongside Justo Gianni and Clemente Montes, he constitutes an attacking trio that has already scored five times in this Libertadores campaign—enhanced by their home advantage.

Cruzeiro currently holds third place in the group with six points, having scored three goals and maintaining a +1 goal difference—the same as Catolica, but with fewer goals in direct matches.

This positioning leaves the Foxes outside the direct qualification slots, currently occupying a spot leading to the Copa Sudamericana—rendering this match a necessity for them.

The pressure escalated following a 3–1 defeat to Atletico Mineiro last Saturday, concluding a streak of victories over Remo and Boca Juniors. Manager Artur Jorge acknowledged that the team lost emotional composure and has urged for a robust reaction prior to their trip to Chile.

In the Brasileiro, Cruzeiro has gathered 16 points and finds itself in 15th place, teetering near the relegation zone—making May a pivotal month on two fronts.

A victory in Chile would rejuvenate Cruzeiro’s chances for qualification and might significantly alter the dynamics of the group.

Conversely, a loss would mean they need to secure victories in their remaining two matches—including a formidable away game at La Bombonera—to maintain any realistic hopes of advancing to the last 16.

Team News

Universidad Catolica has one significant uncertainty in midfield: Fernando Zuqui is recuperating from a respiratory infection, making his participation doubtful. As a regular in Garnero’s tactics, his presence or lack thereof could directly influence the team’s layout.

Other than this doubt, the entire squad is available and well-rested. The coaching staff rotated important players in the last domestic encounter to prioritize this Libertadores clash, and they are expected to assemble a nearly full-strength side, with Fernando Zampedri as the primary attacking catalyst.

Cruzeiro has confirmed injuries, with Cassio and Marquinhos both out due to knee issues. The absence of left-back Kauã Prates also limits defensive options and heightens concerns in that area.

Additionally, Matheus Henrique, Gerson, and Matheus Pereira are all just one yellow card away from suspension, which could further disrupt the squad for future matches—a complication for the coaching team amid a demanding schedule.

Universidad Catolica probable starting XI:

Bernedo; Gonzalez, Ampuero, Diaz, Husband; Valencia; Mountains, Zuqui, Caves, Gianni; Zampedri

Cruzeiro probable starting XI:

Octavio; Fagner, Bruno, Jesus, Kaiki; Romero, Gerson, Pereira, Christian; Arroyo, Jorge

Universidad Catolica will play at their home ground, the Claro Arena—a venue where they feel at ease—and come into this match in good form, having previously defeated Cruzeiro at the Mineirao in the group stage. The Chileans seem to have a favorable matchup against Cruzeiro in this edition of the Libertadores.

Cruzeiro is facing inconsistency in the Brasileiro and typically struggle in challenging environments. Catolica possesses attacking prowess and should be able to take advantage of the spaces Artur Jorge’s side often leaves open during counterattacks.