Santos vs Cruzeiro
Santos edge Cruzeiro in tight tussle
A first-half double sets Santos on course before a late Cruzeiro reply.
Santos secured a narrow 2-1 victory over Cruzeiro in Serie A, thanks to B. Rollheiser's opener and an own goal by Fabrício Bruno both in the first half. Matheus Pereira pulled one back for Cruzeiro right on the 90th minute, but it was too little too late. Fipster's high-confidence prediction for a home win was spot on, even if the exact scoreline missed the mark.
Outcome probability
Santos and Cruzeiro face off in what promises to be an entertaining fixture in the 27th round of the league. Both teams have their strengths, but recent form and key player performances suggest a closely fought contest with goals aplenty.
Match factors
Neymar's absence weakens Santos attack
Neymar is confirmed out with a thigh injury, removing a key creative and scoring threat from Santos
Gabriel Barbosa's strong away scoring form
Gabriel Barbosa has scored 5 goals in last 5 away games, well above league average for attackers
Cruzeiro's consistent scoring streak
Cruzeiro has scored in last 5 matches, showing strong offensive momentum
Fágner's set-piece threat for Cruzeiro
Fágner leads Cruzeiro with 4 assists, including set-piece deliveries, posing a creative threat
Santos defense missing key midfielders
Santos missing key midfielders due to injury and suspension may weaken defensive midfield cover
The context
Cruzeiro currently sit 6th in the league with 39 points, showing solid form, while Santos are 14th with 29 points, eager to climb the table. Historically, Cruzeiro have the upper hand with 10 wins in 20 meetings, but Santos have shown they can rise to the occasion.
Key insights
Gabriel Barbosa
Santos
Gabriel Barbosa has been in blistering form away from home, scoring 5 goals in his last 5 away games, making him a key threat for Santos.
Serie A 26/278 goals in 18 games, 0.6 goals/game last 10 away
Fágner
Cruzeiro
Fágner is Cruzeiro’s top assist provider with 4 assists, particularly dangerous from set-pieces, adding a creative edge from defence.
Serie A 26/274 assists in 22 games, 0.18 assists/game
Matheus Pereira
Cruzeiro
Matheus Pereira has been a high-scoring midfielder with 5 goals this season, including 3 in the last 5 games, contributing to Cruzeiro’s offensive momentum.
Serie A 26/275 goals in 21 games, 0.6 goals/game last 5
Analysis
Gabriel Barbosa is the standout player for Santos, boasting an impressive record of 5 goals in his last 5 away games, making him a constant threat. Cruzeiro's Fágner offers creativity from defence with 4 assists this season, particularly dangerous from set-pieces. Santos will miss Neymar due to a thigh injury, which could hamper their creativity, but their attacking options remain potent. Cruzeiro have been consistent scorers recently, netting in their last five matches, so Santos' defence will be tested.
Key facts
- 1.Cruzeiro lead head-to-head with 10 wins to Santos' 7 in 20 matches.
- 2.Cruzeiro are 6th in the league with 39 points from 25 games.
- 3.Santos are 14th with 29 points from 24 games.
- 4.Gabriel Barbosa has scored 5 goals in his last 5 away games.
- 5.Fágner leads Cruzeiro with 4 assists, mainly from set-pieces.
- 6.Neymar is out with a thigh injury, weakening Santos' attack.
- 7.Cruzeiro have scored in their last 5 matches, showing good form.
Prediction
Despite Cruzeiro's statistical edge and league position, the prediction favours a home win for Santos by 3-2. The match is expected to be open and competitive, with Santos edging it thanks to their attacking firepower and home advantage.
Player Insights
Standout players Fipster expects to impact the match — curated highlights, not full squad lists
Home — Santos
Away — Cruzeiro
The verdict
Expect a thrilling encounter with plenty of goals and attacking intent from both sides. Santos' resilience and Gabriel Barbosa's clinical finishing should see them narrowly overcome Cruzeiro in a match that keeps fans on the edge of their seats.
Form as the teams went into this match — excludes this result and anything since.
Team Comparison
Season shape — attack, defence, form, clean sheets & win rate
Home vs Away comparison
Goal difference in each of the last few fixtures — above the line is a net win, below is a net loss
Season comparison
Goals scored & conceded, goal difference and clean sheets across the season
Halftime Performance
What each side does once the whistle goes for half time
Streaks
Recent-form runs — each side’s most-recent game meets in the middle
Head to Head
Rollheiser
Fabrício Bruno (OG)
Kaio Jorge
Yellow Card
Romero
Henrique Pereira
Everton
Yellow Card
Matheus Henrique
Rollheiser
Everton
Fágner
Gerson
Arroyo
João Marcelo
Yellow Card
Gabriel Bontempo
Rony
Brazão
Yellow Card
Fabrício Bruno
Yellow Card
Matheus Pereira
Assist: Rodríguez
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Palmeiras | 27 | 16 | 8 | 3 | +26 | 56 |
| 5 |  Bahia | 26 | 11 | 10 | 5 | +8 | 43 |
| 6 |  Cruzeiro | 27 | 12 | 6 | 9 | 0 | 42 |
| 7 |  Atletico-MG | 26 | 11 | 6 | 9 | +4 | 39 |
| 9 |  RB Bragantino | 26 | 10 | 6 | 10 | +3 | 36 |
| 10 |  Santos | 26 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 35 |
| 11 |  Sao Paulo | 26 | 9 | 6 | 11 | +1 | 33 |
Match Statistics
Santos
3-4-2-1Starting XI
- 5João SchmidtM
- 7EvertonM
- 8Gabriel BontempoM
- 11RonyF
- 14Luan PeresD
- 15Willian ArãoD
- 18Igor ViniciusD
- 23RodineiM
- 32B. RollheiserM
- 48Gustavo Henrique PereiraM
- 77Gabriel BrazãoG
Substitutes
- 1DiógenesG
- 6ArthurM
- 16ThacianoM
- 17G. CaballeroF
- 25Gabriel MeninoM
- 26João Paulo AnaniasD
- 28C. OlivaM
- 30M. TercerosM
- 38Rafael GonzagaD
- 42João AlencarD
- 45LimaM
- 81S. PierriM
Cruzeiro
4-2-3-1Starting XI
- 7Matheus HenriqueM
- 8GersonM
- 10Matheus PereiraM
- 15Fabrício BrunoD
- 19Kaio JorgeF
- 23FágnerD
- 27G. RojasD
- 29L. RomeroM
- 43João MarceloD
- 81Otávio Eleodoro Rezende CostaG
- 99K. ArroyoM
Substitutes
- 1CássioG
- 2Kauã MoraesD
- 5Zé LucasM
- 9Bruno RodriguesF
- 11MarquinhosF
- 12WilliamD
- 16Lucas SilvaM
- 20Wesley GassovaF
- 25L. VillalbaD
- 38Felipe MoraisM
- 67João Gabriel e Costa CescoF
- 97L. RodríguezF
Santos
| Player | Pos | Min | Rating | G | A | Shots | SoT | Key Passes | Dribbles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B. Rollheiser | M | 74 | 8.2 | 1 | — | 5 | 1 | 6 | 1/4 |
| Willian Arão | D | 90 | 7.5 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — |
| Everton | M | 74 | 7.3 | — | — | 8 | 2 | 5 | 4/5 |
| João Schmidt | M | 90 | 7.2 | — | — | 3 | 1 | 3 | — |
| Gabriel Bontempo | M | 81 | 7.2 | — | — | 6 | 2 | 6 | 1/3 |
| Gustavo Henrique Pereira | M | 61 | 7.0 | — | — | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2/2 |
| Rodinei | M | 90 | 6.8 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 0/2 |
| Igor Vinicius | D | 90 | 6.8 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — |
| Luan Peres | D | 90 | 6.7 | — | — | — | — | — | 0/1 |
| Thaciano | M | 9 | 6.6 | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| M. Terceros | M | 9 | 6.6 | — | — | — | — | — | 1/1 |
| Lima | M | 16 | 6.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 1/1 |
| Arthur | M | 16 | 6.5 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Rony | F | 81 | 6.4 | — | — | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1/3 |
| Gabriel Brazão | G | 90 | 6.3 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| C. Oliva | M | 29 | 6.2 | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | — |
| Gabriel Menino | M | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| G. Caballero | F | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Rafael Gonzaga | D | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| S. Pierri | M | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| João Paulo Ananias | D | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| João Alencar | D | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Diógenes | G | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Cruzeiro
| Player | Pos | Min | Rating | G | A | Shots | SoT | Key Passes | Dribbles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Otávio Eleodoro Rezende Costa | G | 90 | 8.2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Matheus Pereira | M | 90 | 7.8 | 1 | — | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1/1 |
| K. Arroyo | M | 79 | 6.7 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6/7 |
| L. Rodríguez | F | 11 | 6.6 | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | 0/1 |
| João Marcelo | D | 90 | 6.5 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Gerson | M | 75 | 6.5 | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | 1/1 |
| Wesley Gassova | F | 44 | 6.3 | — | — | — | — | — | 0/1 |
| João Gabriel e Costa Cesco | F | 15 | 6.3 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Fágner | D | 75 | 6.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 2/4 |
| L. Romero | M | 46 | 6.1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Zé Lucas | M | 15 | 6.1 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — |
| Kaio Jorge | F | 90 | 6.0 | — | — | 2 | — | — | 1/2 |
| Lucas Silva | M | 16 | 6.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Matheus Henrique | M | 74 | 5.9 | — | — | — | — | — | 2/2 |
| G. Rojas | D | 90 | 5.8 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1/1 |
| Fabrício Bruno | D | 90 | 5.4 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1/2 |
| Kauã Moraes | D | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Felipe Morais | M | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| L. Villalba | D | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Bruno Rodrigues | F | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Cássio | G | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| William | D | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Marquinhos | F | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |