Brazil Cup: Cruzeiro pledge full force against Fluminense

Cruzeiro, the biggest champions in Copa do Brasil, are to enter the field Tuesday (Jul 12) as, alas, the underdogs. To secure a spot in the quarterfinals, the team from Minas Gerais state need to beat Rio’s Fluminense with a difference of at least two goals. A one-goal gap takes the match to the penalties. Any other outcome gets Fluminense qualified.

Even though Cruzeiro still stand atop Series B with 38 points, the team saw their lead against Vasco sink to four points in the last round. They have gone through two matches with no victory, one tie against Ituano in a delayed duel in the 14th round, and a defeat against Guarani.

Over 50 thousand tickets have been sold in advance, and the Mineirão stadium is expected to be packed full of Cruzeiro fans. Nonetheless, coach Paulo Pezzolano urges peace of mind should the team be eliminated: “I know we all want to kick out Fluminense, but no one can take my mind off the fact that the main goal is moving up [to Series A]. I know Cruzeiro deserve all the titles in the world, given our history, but this is the reality today. We’re giving it all on Tuesday. We know we’re facing a team with a lot more skill than us, but we’re ready. We’ll be going full berserk, knowing very well that the most important thing is the game against Novorizontino coming up next.”

If Cruzeiro are facing their bleakest moment since the start of Series B, Fluminense, on the other hand, are at their brightest, with four consecutive wins and the fourth place in the top series. Fluminense haven’t lost to Cruzeiro in five matches, the last defeat having taken place in 2018.

The teams have clashed four times in an edition of Copa do Brazil. In 2006, Fluminense won twice, 3–2 and 1–0, in the quarterfinals. In 2019, Cruzeiro fared better. After two draws, 1–1 and 2–2, they qualified in the penalty shootout, winning 3–1 with a remarkable performance by Fábio, now on the defense for the Rio team.