Cruzeiro vs Flamengo Prediction: Both teams are motivated

Cruzeiro and Flamengo will meet in a Round 32 match that should be balanced. Both sides are motivated by the possibility of winning titles. Cruzeiro qualified for the final of the Copa Sudamericana, while Flamengo won the first leg of the Copa do Brasil final. In the Brasileirão, Cruzeiro and Flamengo seek qualification for the Copa Libertadores but will also secure a place in the most important South American competition if they win the finals they're playing in.

The Fox won 1-0 against Lanús in Argentina and qualified for the final of the Copa Sudamericana after drawing at home in the first leg. It was the team's first win under Fernando Diniz, and it came in a decisive game for the Belo Horizonte club. Diniz won the Copa Libertadores last year as Fluminense coach and could win a South American competition again. There was already some pressure surrounding the coach after six matches without a win. The Miners will face Racing de Avellaneda in the final, which will take place in Asunción, the Paraguayan capital. In the Brasileirão, Cruzeiro is eighth and will try to finish as high as possible.

The Scarlet-Black beat Atlético Mineiro 3-1 at the Maracanã and took a big step towards winning the Copa do Brasil. The second leg will be played next weekend, so Filipe Luís probably won't field his best starting line-up against Cruzeiro. Gabriel Barbosa scored twice against Atlético and could be a key player in the coming weeks after a disappointing season. In the Brasileirão, Flamengo aims to maintain fourth place at least, as the gap to league leader Botafogo is almost impossible to close.

The Cariocas will play the second leg of the Copa do Brasil final next weekend, and they won't be at full strength for this game. It's good news for Cruzeiro, as it can't play at the Mineirão. The match will instead take place at the Independência, the stadium of América-MG, a club from Belo Horizonte. It’s hard to predict a winner, but I'm betting on a Double Chance for Flamengo as it covers two outcomes.