Vasco da Gama vs Cruzeiro preview

Brazil flag 2026 Serie A, Brazil
Estádio Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama
Serie A
Vasco da GamaVAG
CruzeiroCRZ
KICKOFF :
Round 25 Regular Season

CONTEXT

Serie A action features Vasco da Gama welcoming Cruzeiro to Estádio Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama during the 2026 regular season. Currently positioned 19th in the domestic standings, the hosts face a stern test from fifth-placed Cruzeiro. Power ratings indicate Cruzeiro's superiority at 69.94 against Vasco da Gama's 60.62, resulting in a 9.3 point edge for the visitors. Form scores further highlight the disparity, with the away team at 37.72 and the home side at just 5.89. This encounter promises an intriguing battle between contrasting team trajectories in the league campaign.

TL;DR

  • Structural: Cruzeiro holds the stronger power score of 69.94 compared to Vasco da Gama's 60.62.
  • Form: Cruzeiro demonstrates superior recent form with a score of 37.72 against Vasco da Gama's 5.89.
  • Squad: Cruzeiro is identified as the stronger team overall in this fixture.
  • Efficiency: Efficiency metrics remain unavailable for both teams ahead of this match.
  • Transition: Transition play data shows no specific details available for analysis.
  • Set pieces: Set piece information is limited due to unavailable xG data for both sides.
  • xVariable: The 9.3 point power advantage favors Cruzeiro in this league contest.
No standings statistics available.
No head-to-head records found.
0.5+ goals: 85%
1.5+ goals: 70%
2.5+ goals: 50%
3.5+ goals: 25%
Confidence: High (≥8 matches)

Quality vs Volume

Home: xG 1.8, Shots 12, xG/Shot 0.15
Away: xG 1.5, Shots 14, xG/Shot 0.11

Open Play vs Set Play

Open Play: 65%
Set Play: 35%

Expected Points

TeamxPts
Home1.8
Away1.2
ℹ️ Methodology: Expected Goals (xG) measures shot quality
Jan 25 vs Team A
Feb 1 vs Team B
Feb 8 vs Team C
Vasco da Gama P. dos Santos Martins Silva
P. dos Santos Martins Silva
VS
Cruzeiro Artur Jorge
Artur Jorge
1.1
Avg Points / Game (Last 100 Matches)
1.85
0.5 i
Last 6 Opponents
Palmeiras Rank: 75 L
Santos Rank: 63 L
Bahia Rank: 64 D
Chapecoense Rank: 53 D
Mirassol Rank: 63 D
Vitória Rank: 61 L
Avg Points / Game (Last 6 Matches)
2.5 i
Last 6 Opponents
Flamengo Rank: 76 W
Corinthians Rank: 68 W
Mirassol Rank: 66 W
Coritiba Rank: 60 W
Botafogo Rank: 65 L
Internacional Rank: 63 W
1
Head to Head (Wins - Draws - Losses)
1 - 3 - 1
1
No sidelined player data available.

Team Power Ranking

i
What is Power Ranking?
Power ranking is SportMonks' model-based team strength indicator. Historical input capped to 2 seasons.
60.62
69.94
0 (Weakest) 100 (Strongest)
Metric
Vasco da Gama
Cruzeiro
Power Score
60.62
69.94
League Position
19
5
Global Rank
531
254

Form Analysis Opponent-Weighted

Line chart of recent results (points/trend). Friendlies excluded by default. Hover for opponent, result, xG/xGA and power ranking — based on last 6 matches.

–
vs
Vasco da Gama — Opponent-weighted form score
Cruzeiro — Opponent-weighted form score
Win (3 pts) Draw (1 pt) Loss (0 pts) Vasco da Gama Cruzeiro

Team Head to Head Last 6 Seasons

Summary of 5 matches between these sides — filtered by competition and venue context.

Vasco da Gama VAG Home
5 matches
Cruzeiro CRZ Away
Match Record
1
Wins
1
3
Draws
3
1
Losses
1
Goals
6
Goals Scored
5
5
Goals Conceded
6
+1
Goal Difference
-1
Expected Goals
0
xG
0
0
xGA
0

Data last updated: 2026-08-28T00:38:28+00:00

STARTING XI - EXPECTED

Pitch

General Information

Date & Time
Competition
2026 Serie A, Brazil · Round 25 · Regular Season
Stadium
Estádio Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama
Capacity
21880
Pitch Surface
Grass
Weather
☀️ 12°C, Fair
Referees
Fernando Antonio Mendes de Salles Nascimento Fillho
Eduardo Goncalves da Cruz
Acacio Menezes Leao
Murilo Tarrega Victor

Expected Lineup

Referee : Fernando Antonio Mendes de Salles Nascimento Fillho

Starting XI ▼

1
Léo Jardim
Léo Jardim Goalkeeper
6.64
77
Claudio Spinelli
Claudio Spinelli Centre Forward
6.59
3
Tchê Tchê
Tchê Tchê Defensive Midfield
6.64
5
Santiago Sosa
Santiago Sosa Defensive Midfield
6.62
9
Facundo Colidio
Facundo Colidio Left Wing
7.39
11
Andrés Gómez
Andrés Gómez Right Wing
6.89
23
Thiago Mendes
Thiago Mendes Attacking Midfield
7.16
43
Lucas Freitas
Lucas Freitas Left Back
6.29
46
Carlos Cuesta
Carlos Cuesta Right Back
6.65
66
Cuiabano
Cuiabano Left Back
7.15
96
Paulo Henrique
Paulo Henrique Right Back
6.7
Referee : Fernando Antonio Mendes de Salles Nascimento Fillho

Starting XI ▼

81
Otávio Costa
Otávio Costa Goalkeeper
6.64
97
Luciano Rodríguez
Luciano Rodríguez Centre Forward
6.68
70
Kaique Kenji
Kaique Kenji Left Wing
6.7
7
Matheus Henrique
Matheus Henrique Defensive Midfield
6.68
8
Gerson
Gerson Defensive Midfield
6.96
10
Matheus Pereira
Matheus Pereira Attacking Midfield
7.43
23
Fagner
Fagner Right Back
6.85
25
Lucas Villalba
Lucas Villalba Left Back
6.65
27
Gabriel Rojas
Gabriel Rojas Left Back
6.93
43
João Marcelo
João Marcelo Right Back
6.87
67
João Costa
João Costa Right Wing
6.51

CONCLUSION

Cruzeiro enters this fixture with clear advantages in multiple areas including overall strength and current form. Vasco da Gama will look to leverage home support at their stadium to overcome the deficit in standings and ratings. The league positions suggest a mismatch on paper but football often delivers surprises in such settings. Both teams have opportunities to influence the outcome through their respective strengths. Preparation and execution will determine the result in this Serie A clash. The season context adds importance to points for both the mid-table aspirations of the visitors and the survival hopes of the hosts.