Ceara Vs Fortaleza Match Analysis And Prediction

Republished By Plato

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Ceara will have an encounter with Fortaleza in one of Thursday’s Copa do Brasil contests, with the visitors looking to hold onto their 2-0 lead from the first leg.

Both sides are sitting in the relegation zone in the Brasileiro Serie A, so a cup run could prove to be a welcome distraction for whichever of these sides progresses into the quarter-finals.

Ceara have never won the Copa do Brasil in their entire history, with a 1-0 defeat to Gremio in the 1994 final representing their best ever effort.

However, having already come through three rounds to reach the last-16 of this year’s competition, there was real belief building that 2022 could be the year that their duck is finally broken.

However, those hopes were largely dashed by a first-leg 2-0 defeat to Fortaleza three weeks ago, with Yago Pikachu’s brace firmly placing their opponents in control of the tie.

Fortaleza’s first-leg victory reduced the mounting pressure building on manager Juan Pablo Vojvoda, but he will be aware his side’s league form must improve if his job is to be saved.

After an excellent 2021 campaign saw him lead the club to a fourth-placed finish, their highest-ever finish in Brasileiro Serie A and consequently the first time they had qualified for the Copa Libertadores; as well as a semi-final appearance in Copa do Brasil, Fortaleza’s form has taken a downward turn.

For a side of their size and historical standing, maintaining last season’s form was always going to be tough. However, sitting bottom in Serie A after 16 matches is quite the fall from grace.

Ensuring his players do not submit to the heavy pressure Ceara’s players and fans alike are likely to put on them in their upcomimg second leg is surely crucial for Vojvoda to begin to thurn his side’s season around.

Ceara vs Fortaleza head to head

The two teams have previously met on 87 occasions across all competitions, where Ceara have claimed 32 victories while Fortaleza have won 26, and they have drawn in 29. Ceara have scored 102 goals and conceded 92. In their last five meetings, Fortaleza have won one, Ceara three with one draw.

Ceara 3-1 Fortaleza 02/08/21

Fortaleza 0-4 Ceara 18/11/21

Fortaleza 1-1 Ceara 05/02/22

Fortaleza 0-1 Ceara 02/06/22

Fortaleza 2-0 Ceara 23/06/22

Ceara latest home form

Ceara have recently been on a good run of form at home, and they have been unbeaten in their five most recent matches. They defeated The Strongest 3-0 in their last home game in the Copa Sudamericana. In their last five matches, they have scored six goals and conceded three.

Ceara 1-1 Coritiba 05/06/22

Ceara 0-0 Atletico Mineiro 16/06/22

Ceara 1-1 Atletico Goianiense 27/06/22

Ceara 1-1 Internacional 03/07/22

Ceara 3-0 The Strongest 07/07/22

Ceara latest away form

Ceara have recently failed to keep a good run of form on the road, having won just two of their five most recent matches. They lost 2-1 to Fluminense in their last away game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored four goals and conceded six.

Goias 1-1 Ceara 12/06/22

Cuiaba 0-0 Ceara 19/06/22

Fortaleza 2-0 Ceara 23/06/22

The Strongest 1-2 Ceara 30/06/22

Fluminense 2-1 Ceara 10/07/22

Fortaleza latest home form

Fortaleza have recently been on a relatively good run of form at home, as they have been unbeaten in their six most recent matches. They drew 0-0 with Palmeiras in their last home game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored four goals and conceded just one.

Fortaleza 0-0 Athletico Paranaense 13/06/22

Fortaleza 1-0 America Mineiro 20/06/22

Fortaleza 2-0 Ceara 23/06/22

Fortaleza 1-1 Estudiantes 01/07/22

Fortaleza 0-0 Palmeiras 11/07/22

Fortaleza latest away form

Fortaleza have recently been on a poor run of form on the road, as they have lost each of their four most recent matches. They lost 3-0 to Estudiantes in their last away game in the Copa Libaertadores. In their last five matches, they have scored seven goals and conceded 12.

Flamengo 1-2 Fortaleza 05/06/22

Avai 3-2 Fortaleza 17/06/22

Atletico Mineiro 3-2 Fortaleza 26/06/22

Coritiba 2-1 Fortaleza 04/07/22

Estudiantes 3-0 Fortaleza 08/07/22

Ceara news

Santos appears to have a clean bill of health to select from for Thursday’s tie, but Erick is likely to be absent until at least August due to a collarbone injury.

The Ceara boss could opt to select the same XI which performed admirably despite a 2-1 defeat to Fluminense at the weekend.

Fortaleza news

Fortaleza come into the contest having some injury concerns, with Rosbon, Anthony Landazuri and Tinga all likely to be ruled out for at least another couple of weeks.

Vojvoda could retain the same XI who defeated Ceara 2-0 only a few weeks ago, with Pikachu potentially proving a pivotal figure once again.

Prediction and Odds

Ceara will are likely to utilise their home advantage to help them pick up a morale-boosting victory against their struggling local rivals in this contest.

However, the hosts may have left themselves with too much work to do in terms of progressing to the quarter-finals, with the visitors favourites to hold on.

Odds: 1 2.20 X 2.05 2 2.30