Ceara vs Palmeiras Prediction: Will the Verdao increase their lead over Corinthians?

One of the first matches of the 20th round of the Brazilian football championship will be the encounter between Ceara and Palmeiras. The Verdao are quoted as favorites for the encounter despite the field factor. Ceara is a good home side, but Palmeiras was the league leaders and the strongest team in South America last season.

After being eliminated from the Brazilian Cup by Fortaleza, Ceara played three matches in the national championship. The Black and Whites beat Corinthians (3:1) and Avai (1:0), while on the road Ceara lost (0:1) to Juventude. The home side is 12th in the standings, just two points ahead of their nearest pursuer, Coritiba, in the South American Cup zone. Ceara's home statistics are 17th in the division, +2=5-2, 10:10 goal difference.

Palmeiras, like Ceara, dropped out of the Brazilian Cup. Then, the motivated Verdao has achieved three successive victories: at home to Cuiaba and Inter, and away to America. Such results strengthened their lead in Serie A, with Palmeiras now four points ahead of their nearest pursuer, Corinthians, with 39 points after 19 rounds. Verdao also has the best away statistics in the division, +5=4-0, 12:4 goal difference.

Palmeiras has won their last three matches in Serie A, which shows the excellent form of South America's strongest team. Verdao has a tough and busy schedule ahead and it is likely that they will soon lose points, which, if possible, should be avoided in the upcoming game against the Serie A midfielder. As for the total, we shouldn't expect a very productive match. First, we should consider the fact that Palmeiras score noticeably less away than they do in their home matches, but they also concede fewer goals per game on average.

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