At the Mineirão Stadium in Belo Horizonte, Cruzeiro hosts Gremio for Matchday 13 of the Brasileirão Betano, aiming to secure vital points to stay within reach of the top of the table. The home side, chasing a long-awaited national title last won in 2014, currently shares first place with Flamengo (who have one game in hand), thanks to 24 points collected so far. The numbers confirm the excellent form of Fernando Jardim’s team: second-best attack in the league with 17 goals scored and second-best defense with just 8 goals conceded. Cruzeiro heads into this clash riding a 12-match unbeaten run across all competitions and boasts an almost flawless home record. The objective remains to stay competitive on two fronts: in addition to the title race, Cruzeiro will face CRB in the Round of 16 of the Copa Betano between late July and early August. The only blemish in their season so far was their group-stage elimination from the Copa Sudamericana — a disappointing outcome, but one that may ultimately benefit them by allowing more focus on the league. Gremio, on the other hand, has had a disappointing start to their Brasileirão campaign and currently sits in 10th place with 16 points, four points behind the Copa Libertadores zone. Recent signs, however, are encouraging: seven points from their last three league games, largely thanks to a newfound defensive solidity that was missing earlier in the season. Beyond their improved domestic form, Gremio also advanced to the Round of 16 of the Copa Sudamericana, where they will face Deportivo Garcilaso. The away trip to Belo Horizonte promises to be tough: Cruzeiro remains unbeaten at home, with five wins and one draw. For Gremio, earning points at the Mineirão would be vital in reigniting their continental qualification hopes.

Cruzeiro's Recent Form and Key Stats

To stay sharp during the Brasileirão Betano break, Cruzeiro played two friendly matches against Argentine sides in July: the first ended in a narrow 1-0 loss to Defensa y Justicia, while the second saw the Celeste claim a 1-0 victory over Banfield.

Their last official match was on June 13, when Cruzeiro drew 0-0 away at Vitória — a result that fell short of expectations but still helped extend their unbeaten streak to 12 matches in all competitions, with eight wins and four draws.

The team's greatest strength lies in their defensive solidity: Cruzeiro kept a clean sheet in eight of their last 12 matches, confirming their status as one of the most organized and difficult sides to break down in Brazilian football at the moment.

Gremio's Recent Form and Key Stats

Gremio’s last outing came on July 7, when Mano Menezes’ side lifted the Recopa Gaúcha after a 2-0 win over fourth-division side EC São José. Although against a lower-league opponent, the trophy win extended the Porto Alegre club’s unbeaten run to six games (4 wins and 2 draws), underlining their current positive momentum.

Their turning point this season came after a May 18 defeat to São Paulo on Matchday 9. Since then, Gremio has tightened up defensively, conceding just one goal in their next six matches — a clear sign of the tactical balance now found.

In their most recent Brasileirão Betano fixture, the Gaúchos earned a 1-1 draw against Corinthians, with Martin Braithwaite scoring again — continuing to grow as the team’s technical and goalscoring leader.

Cruzeiro vs Gremio Prediction and Tactical Overview

Cruzeiro and Gremio face off in a match where the home side comes in as the favorite, according to BetMines’ prediction algorithm, which gives Fernando Seabra’s men the highest win probability. Cruzeiro is in outstanding form, unbeaten in 13 of their last 14 matches, and continues to challenge Flamengo at the top of the standings.

Gremio arrives with their first away win of the league season under their belt, but their away record remains poor: prior to that win, they had gone seven road matches without a victory (4 losses and 3 draws). Facing a rock-solid Cruzeiro side at home, coming away from Arena Independência with a result will be a tall order.

Another factor favoring the home team is their defense: Cruzeiro has kept a clean sheet in seven of their last ten matches. As a result, BetMines also predicts that Gremio may fail to score in this fixture.

Injury and Suspension Updates: Cruzeiro will be without suspended Carlos Eduardo and injured players Matheus Henrique and João Marcelo. Gremio will miss suspended Dodi, along with injured Cristian Oliveira, João Pedro, and Rodrigo Ely.

• Cruzeiro vs Gremio Prediction by BetMines: Cruzeiro to win (sign 1) – 50%
  
  
• Cruzeiro vs Gremio Prediction by BetMines: At least one team will not score – 56%

Predicted Lineups Cruzeiro vs Gremio

CRUZEIRO (4-2-3-1): Cassio; Oliveira, Fabricio, Villalba, Kaiki; Romero, Silva; Christian, Pereira, Wanderson; Kaio Jorge. Coach: Leonardo Jardim

GREMIO (4-2-3-1): Volpi; Martins, Wagner, Kannemann, Marlon; Villasanti, Santana; Alysson, Cristaldo, Amuzu; Braithwaite. Coach: Mano Menezes