Fortaleza vs Juventude Prediction: Both teams were brilliant in the previous round

Fortaleza and Juventude hosted the two strongest teams in the Brasileirão, and both performed amazingly well to beat their illustrious opponents. The Cearenses beat champion Palmeiras 3-0, and the Gaúchos defeated Flamengo, the Série A leader, 2-1. The Lion and the Ju are now full of confidence for the upcoming clash.

Fortaleza

Argentinian Lucero was the hero against the Verdão by scoring two beautiful goals. The striker was incredibly efficient, unlike the Palmeiras forwards, who missed several chances. For practically the entire game, Fortaleza gave possession to the champion to take advantage of the spaces left at the back. The Paulistas traditionally find it difficult to play at the Arena Castelão, but the 3-0 win was still a surprise. The Lion is now in 11th place with 17 points and can pick up another three points at home to Juventude if it has the same efficiency recorded against Palmeiras.

Juventude

In an exciting game, Juventude won 2-1 against the Série A leader Flamengo. The Gaúchos showed excellent physical condition, and their athletic style was essential to turn the result around after Pedro opened the scoring for the Cariocas in the 25th minute. The goals for the Caxias do Sul team came from set pieces, taking advantage of Flamengo's weakness. Several times, the Gaúchos caused danger with crosses into the box, where they were superior in the air. Any team could have won, but the home side's determination made the difference.

Expert Betting Tips

If Fortaleza defeated Palmeiras, one would think it could repeat the result against Juventude, but football isn't that straightforward. Juventude beat the league leader Flamengo, so it's a quality team with only one point less than Fortaleza. However, the Gaúchos have yet to win on the road, where they have shown a lack of confidence. Juventude has been much better at home. On the other hand, the Cearenses haven't lost yet at the Arena Castelão, where they once again showed their strength in the last game, beating the title holders 3-0. Considering these factors, I'm betting on Fortaleza to win with a maximum of four goals scored.