Fortaleza take on the visitors Vitoria in the round 17 match of Brazilian Serie A. The match will be played on Thursday, July 18th at Castelão (Fortaleza).
Fortaleza has been performing quite well this season and is currently in seventh place in the table. They are just one point behind sixth place, and São Paulo, who occupy that spot, have played one more match. Bookmakers understandably favor the "Tricolor of Steel" in their home game against Vitória Bahia. After all, the team from Ceará has won four of their last five league matches. Specifically, in home matches, Fortaleza is one of the best in the league. In eight home games, they have not suffered a single defeat and have not dropped any points in their last five home Serie A games. There are no serious personnel losses in the squad for the upcoming match. Injured players Calebe, Martinez, and Zé Welison have not been playing recently anyway, which hasn't stopped the "Lions" from winning.
| 2 x £10 Free Bet | Review | |||
| 100$-500$ for No Lose Free Bets | Review | |||
| 100% up to £200 | Review | |||
| Not available | Review |
On the other hand, the other Lions—the "Lions from Barra"—have far more serious personnel issues at the moment. Defenders Camutanga and Rodrigo Andrade are in the infirmary. Midfielder Caíque Vinícius (9 league matches) and forward Yuri Castillo (10 matches and 3 goals) are still injured. Due to these squad issues, Vitória has been in a slump, losing four of their last six league matches. In terms of away games in Serie A, they are one of the worst in the league, having lost more than half of their matches. As a result, the "Lions from Barra" are currently 16th in the table, just three points above the relegation zone.
Fortaleza has played one less match in the league than their opponent but has 11 more points. They have won four of their last five matches, while Vitória has lost four of their last six Serie A matches. In the last five head-to-head meetings, the score is 3-1 in favor of the "Tricolor of Steel," with one draw. The current form of the hosts is much better than that of the visitors. Additionally, Vitória's personnel losses are more severe than those of the hosts. Unlike Fortaleza, several key players for the "Lions from Barra" will be unavailable. My prediction is a home win; the Tricolor of Steel will take revenge for their March defeat in the Northeast Cup of Brazil.
Prediction for the match: Fortaleza to win.
