Against All Odds: Cruzeiro to fail their ABC's

It's been a bad week for Cruzeiro

It's Copa do Brasil action for Paul Robinson tonight as he thinks Cruzeiro will struggle to get the win at ABC.

ABC v Cruzeiro
Thursday October 16, 02:00 BST

ABC put up a spirited fight in the first leg of this quarter-final tie as they managed to hold the reigning Brazilian champions for 79 minutes. They eventually lost 1-0, but they are by no means out of this tie and this second leg is far from a formality.

Z Teodoro's side may only be a Serie B club - one in 14th place no least - but they have raised their game for this competition. Vasco da Gama and Atletico GO are just two that they dispatched to get this far - winning three and drawing the other of their four home matches.

Cruzeiro should still retain their Campeonato title despite falling to two defeats in the last week. A disappointing 1-0 loss at home to Corinthians was followed by a poor 3-0 beating at Flamengo, which means their lead at the top has been cut to six points.

A Copa do Brasil match will be a bit of respite for Marcelo Oliveira's men but I don't envisage him playing his strongest team. Despite this being the last eight of the competition, 'The Fox' have bigger fish to fry and the manager will expect that his second string can complete the job with a one goal advantage in the bag already.

Obviously this is a huge ask for a club of this size to beat the best team in the country, but as already stated, Cruzeiro won't be fielding their best XI with a trip to Vitoria coming up at the weekend. That's why, with the visitors trading at around the 1.784/5 mark, I have to make them my lay of the day. 

Recommended Bet
Lay Cruzeiro v ABC @ 1.784/5

2014 P/L (1pt each bet)

Wagered: 277 pts
Returned: 289.54 pts
P/L: + 12.54 pts (after commission)
(2013 P/L: + 3.80 pts)
(2012 P/L: + 9.60 pts)