Fluminense vs Cruzeiro Prediction: Fluminense is in trouble

Fluminense and Cruzeiro will meet in a match highlighted by Fernando Diniz's return to the Maracanã to face his former club. Diniz was the only coach to lead Fluminense to the Copa Libertadores title, but a disastrous start to the season has led to his departure from the Rio de Janeiro club. Mano Menezes replaced Diniz, and the team improved, making a good recovery and getting out of the relegation zone, but three straight defeats pushed the Cariocas back into the Z4.

In the last round, the Tricolor das Laranjeiras failed at the worst possible time and place. In Goiânia, Fluminense needed a win against the last-placed team to get out of the relegation zone and suffered defeat against the weakest team in the Brasileirão. Atlético Goianiense's goal came in the 84th minute, shocking the Cariocas. Initially, the referee disallowed the goal, but the VAR verified that the ball was not out of play when the Atlético player assisted Janderson and validated the goal, causing many protests and a red card for Cano. The striker was on the bench and showed a cell phone with the image of the ball, desperately claiming it was beyond the goal line. There are nine rounds to go in the Brasileirão, and Fluminense's players must control their anxiety and play much better.

The Fox drew 1-1 with Vasco da Gama and dropped two points at home. Fernando Diniz faced a ban due to the red card he received in his last game as Fluminense coach, so he wasn't on the bench. Diniz knows his former players well, which is undoubtedly an advantage he will try to take advantage of. Cruzeiro is in eighth place, two points off sixth-placed Bahia, a place that guarantees qualification for the Copa Libertadores. The Miners haven't won in the league for three matches, so this clash with Fluminense is vital.

It's an emotionally draining game, as the Fluminense players are under a lot of pressure and will face the coach who took them to the Copa Libertadores triumph. It won't be easy for Fernando Diniz to face his former players either, and he's only recently arrived at Cruzeiro and hasn't won in his first two games. I'm going for a draw because there are no favorites.