BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil (Interstat) — A pivotal Carioca Série A clash is set for Sunday when a surging Cruzeiro hosts an inconsistent Fluminense at the Mineirão stadium.

Cruzeiro (12-4-6), which sits higher in the competition standings, enters the match with formidable home form and an overall record of 34 wins across all competitions this season. They are riding a wave of momentum, coming off a 1-0 road victory over Gremio on Wednesday and are unbeaten in their last five matches across all competitions.

Fluminense (14-12-5) arrives with momentum of its own, having secured a 1-0 win against Mirassol FC on Thursday for its third consecutive victory. However, its form has been marked by streaks, with the recent wins preceded by a three-match winless run.

The recent head-to-head result favors the hosts. In their last meeting on July 17, Cruzeiro secured a 2-0 victory over Fluminense.

Despite Cruzeiro’s strong record and home-field advantage, Fluminense has shown a recent knack for grinding out narrow results. According to the Interstat game simulator, this sets the stage for a tightly contested affair, projecting a 1-1 draw. The match will test Cruzeiro’s defensive solidity against a Fluminense side finding ways to win.