After more than six weeks away from Brasileiro action, FIFA Club World Cup semi-finalists Fluminense welcome Cruzeiro to Maracana Stadium on Thursday.

While the hosts have won seven of their last 10 matches across all competitions, the visitors are seeking to extend their unbeaten top-flight run to nine games.

Match preview

Two years on from losing in the 2023 Club World Cup final, Fluminense surprised many by progressing to the semi-finals of the newly-expanded tournament, most notably beating Champions League finalists Inter Milan 2-0 in the last 16.

A 2-1 victory over Al-Hilal followed in the quarter-finals, but their impressive run in the United States (W3 D2) was ended by one of their own academy graduates - new Chelsea signing Joao Pedro - who scored outstanding goals in each half of the last-four contest on July 8 to send the Premier League club into the final with a 2-0 win.

Nevertheless, Fluminense exited the tournament ‘with their heads held high’ in the eyes of head coach Renato Gaucho and they have also earned around $60m for reaching the semi-finals - a huge financial reward for the Brazilian club that could put them on course for record revenue this year.

Fluminense are now gearing up for their first Brasileiro match in 46 days since beating Internacional 2-0 away from home on June 2, and they currently sit sixth in the table after winning six of their opening 11 games of the 2025 campaign, just four points behind leaders Flamengo.

Tricolor will fancy their chances of claiming a positive result on Thursday, as they are unbeaten in their last 11 home encounters with Cruzeiro (W8 D3), most recently beating them 1-0 in October last year.

Cruzeiro have finished outside the top eight in the Brasileiro in both of the last two seasons since returning to the top flight in 2023, but they currently sit joint top of the table this term, just behind leaders Flamengo on goal difference.

Raposa have put together an eight-game unbeaten league run and celebrated their eighth Brasileiro win of the season after putting Gremio to the sword 4-1 on home soil on Monday, courtesy of a superb hat-trick from Kaio Jorge.

Head coach Leonardo Jardim - formerly of Monaco and Al-Hilal - was pleased with the attitude of his players against Gremio and he is treating every Brasileiro match as “a final” as he endeavours to secure Copa Libertadores qualification for Cruzeiro.

Raposa boast the best home record in the Brazilian top tier so far this season, accumulating 19 points from seven matches, but they have only picked up half as many points on the road, winning, drawing and losing two games each to claim a total of eight points.

Cruzeiro have not beaten Fluminense away from home since securing a 2-0 win in November 2012, but they did triumph by the same scoreline in June 2024 in a contest that took place four months prior to their most recent meeting.

Fluminense Brasileiro form:

L W L D W W

Fluminense form (all competitions):

D W D W W L

Cruzeiro Brasileiro form:

W D W W D W 

Cruzeiro form (all competitions):

W W D W D W

Team News

Fluminense centre-back Juan Pablo Freytes and midfielder Martinelli both missed the semi-final loss against Chelsea through suspension, but they are available to return on Thursday and could be recalled to the first XI.

Renato Gaucho will weigh up whether to revert to a four-man defence and use Samuel Xavier and Rene as full-backs, while 44-year-old goalkeeper Fabio is set to retain his place between the sticks.

Jhon Arias, who was a standout performer at the Club World Cup, is unlikely to be involved as Wolverhampton Wanderers have reportedly agreed to sign the Colombian, so Agustin Canobbio and Yeferson Soteldo could be recalled to start on the flanks either side of German Cano or Everaldo up front.

As for Cruzeiro, Joao Marcelo and Matheus Henrique remain sidelined with knee injuries, while Kaiki Bruno is suspended due to an accumulation of yellow cards.

However, Carlos Eduardo is available to return from a one-match ban and he could replace Christian on the right flank, joining Matheus Pereira, Wanderson and Kaio Jorge in the final third.

In the absence of Bruno, either Lucas Villalba, William or 16-year-old Kaua Prates could be called upon to start at left-back, while ever-present Fabricio Bruno is set to retain his spot at the heart of defence.

Fluminense possible starting lineup:

Fabio; Xavier, Freytes, Silva, Rene; Martinelli, Bernal, Nonato; Canobbio, Everaldo, Serna

Cruzeiro possible starting lineup:

Cassio; William, Bruno, Fagner, Villalba; Romero, Silva; Eduardo, Pereira, Wanderson; Jorge

We say: Fluminense 1-1 Cruzeiro

Fluminense will be regarded as slight favourites on home soil, but Cruzeiro have enjoyed an impressive run of form and cannot be written off in this one. A closely-contested battle may be on the cards in Rio de Janeiro which may result in the spoils being shared on this occasion.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

Written by
Oliver Thomas

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