Cruzeiro vs São Paulo – News and Probable Lineups

Cruzeiro will look to secure their fourth home victory in a row as they face Sao Paulo in the Brasileiro at Governor Magalhaes Pinto in Belo Horizonte on Thursday.

The Black Beast enters this matchup following a 3-1 win over Vitoria, while Sao Paulo comes off a 2-1 loss against Santos in their last match.

Match overview

Cruzeiro is currently in sixth place in the standings with 45 points from 28 matches, trailing Athletico by just four points.

They have shown remarkable form recently, clinching six victories in their last eight matches, marking a significant turnaround after a poor season start.

Artur Jorge’s squad has also performed well at home, achieving seven wins and four draws out of 14 games, including three consecutive home victories.

However, concerns remain regarding their defensive performance, having conceded 40 goals, the highest tally among the top six teams.

Moreover, they have not kept a clean sheet in their last 11 matches and have incurred three losses in their last five outings across all competitions.

Sao Paulo, struggling with injury issues, is enduring a tough period and finds itself in 11th place in the Brasileiro standings with 36 points.

The Tricolor Paulista has already lost 12 matches this season, scoring 33 goals while conceding 32.

Their away form has been disastrous under Dorival Junior, with Sao Paulo managing only two wins out of 14 away matches, suffering nine defeats along the way.

The Sovereign has not secured a victory in their last 11 away encounters, although they were victorious against Cruzeiro 1-0 in Belo Horizonte back in September 2024.

Sao Paulo has managed a total of just three wins from their last 15 matches, with eight losses; however, there are indications of improvement, as all three wins came in their latest three fixtures.

Team News

Colombian forward Luis Sinisterra is currently out due to a thigh injury and is not expected to return until late December.

Similarly, Gabriel Pec is sidelined with a broken leg, though the winger could possibly return before the month concludes.

Concerns also exist regarding the fitness of Lucas Romero and Kaique Kenji, with Romero battling a calf problem.

Sao Paulo, on the other hand, is facing a serious injury crisis, with center-back Domingo Duarte ruled out for the remainder of the season due to an ACL injury.

Aurelio Buta is unlikely to be back before late November because of a knee issue, while Nicolas is another long-term absentee.

Lucas Moura and Danelzinho are also out, suffering from Achilles and ankle injuries respectively, but both should be nearing returns by the end of the month.

In addition, goalkeeper Rafael, left-back Iago Borduchi, and striker Luciano are currently unavailable, although all three are expected to come back within the next fortnight, relieving some pressure on the squad.

Cruzeiro probable starting XI:

Octavio; Fagner, Marcelo, Jesus, Rojas; Gerson, Lucas; Arroyo, Pereira, Wesley; George

Sao Paulo probable starting XI:

Coronel; Toloi, Arboleda, Maia; Ramon, Bobadilla, Antonio, Lima; Victor Sa, Arthur; Calleri

Cruzeiro enters this match with slightly better form, yet they have been unable to maintain a clean sheet in their last 11 fixtures, suggesting Sao Paulo might see an opening to get something from this encounter.

The Celestials have registered three consecutive victories at home in the league, and they also triumphed over Sao Paulo in their previous meeting held at this ground.