Cruzeiro are one of two clubs in the Brasileiro with a 100% home record, and they seek to continue that run against Bragantino at Governador Magalhaes Pinto on Saturday.
The home side head into the gameweek 17 encounter on a two-game winning run, while the away side have struggled for consistency all season, underlined by their recent form before travelling to Belo Horizonte.
Match preview
Cruzeiro would be in the title conversation if they came anywhere close to replicating their home form on their travels.
Even though the Foxes are not far from table-topping Flamengo — five points separate the sides — the sixth-placed club's inconsistency outside Belo Horizonte means they are chasing the league leader rather than setting the pace.
Nine road matches have been played, but only two wins have been secured, with six goals netted and 13 conceded.
Compared to their unblemished form in Belo Horizonte, six wins from six have a pleasing ring, and Fernando Seabra's men strive to make that seven from seven.
Particularly pivotal to their ongoing home run has been the rarity of home goals conceded (four), level with another undefeated home side Fortaleza and one higher than Juventude and Bahia, the latter being another with a 100% home record.
Bragantino face an uphill task trying to prevent the side with 13 home goals in six games from adding to that number on Saturday.
Supporters would have thought that beating Gremio at the start of June was the needed outcome for a turnaround in their road form.
Unfortunately, the absence of clean sheets since that 2-0 win has left Pedro Caixinha's men with one point from an available 12 on their travels.
In contrast, RB Bragantino are on a three-match winning run on their turf, further magnifying where their issues are.
Having lost 50% of their eight road matches, the away support can do nothing but hope to avoid another dispiriting result against a perfect home side.
Team News
Lucas Silva was suspended for Cruzeiro's win at Gremio, but the midfield man should return to the group for this weekend.
Marlon (shoulder), Rafael Silva (thigh) and Juan Dinenno (groin) are all missing through injury.
Previously on-loan Matheus Pereira, who recently joined the club permanently from Al Hilal, has netted three and set up two since mid-June, and the former West Bromwich man should back himself against the poor travellers.
Bragantino's Matheus Fernandes (thigh) is reportedly touch-and-go for this weekend's match, while Nathan Camargo is not anticipated to play in any capacity.
Andres Hurtado's Ecuador were knocked out by Argentina at the ongoing Copa America a week ago, but he has not returned to action for his club since.
Having had their match against Internacional postponed, the visitors hope the extra time to rest proves beneficial.
The away side's hope is in star wide attacker, Helinho, who has netted five of their 20 goals and added two assists, and he seeks to add to that tally after serving his one-game suspension.
Cruzeiro possible starting lineup:
Anderson; William, Ze Ivaldo, Marcelo, Kaiki; Silva, Romero, Barreal; Veron, Pereira, Gomes
Bragantino possible starting lineup:
Cleiton; Mendes, Henrique, Candido, Capixaba; Raul, Evangelista; Helinho, Lincoln, Mosquera; Sasha
We say: Cruzeiro 2-1 Bragantino
Nothing but a home triumph is anticipated for Cruzeiro, whose 100% record meets the away side's one-point-from-12 wretched sequence on their travels.
While the visitors seldom lose heavily on their travels — and a similar pattern should continue — they are not expected to come away with a positive outcome in Belo Horizonte.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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