The Cruzeiro football club recently faced off against Red Bull Bragantino in a friendly match that ended in a 1-1 draw. This contest, shown on March 22, 2025, at the stadium Nabi Abi Chedid in Bragança Paulista, was attended by over 4,600 fans.
Gabigol, who has quickly become the star of the season for Cruzeiro, scored his sixth goal just 16 minutes into the first half. However, Bragantino's Thiago Borbas equalized shortly before with a penalty after being fouled in the box.
Despite the draw, Cruzeiro head coach Leonardo Jardim expressed optimism regarding his team’s performance, stating, "I think our players are committed. Even with four forwards, we had a capacity for pressure and balance; everyone tried to contribute." Nevertheless, he acknowledged the lingering defensive issues, saying, "We still have individual and collective defensive failures that need addressing. We lost the ball in childish ways at times, inviting opportunities for the opponents."
In addition, Jardins' formation—featuring an attack alignment of four forwards: Gabigol, Dudu, Kaio Jorge, and Wanderson—prompted a more dynamic offensive style. Nonetheless, he noted that the defensive line needed to be closer to midfield, stating, "I believe the defensive line is a bit far from the midfield line, we have to bring them closer together."
Fans of the club took to social media following the match to voice their opinions on specific players, particularly criticizing Lautaro Díaz and Walace for their performances. One fan tweeted, “Walace needs to be benched, time to sell Lautaro. He’s dreadful.” Another added, “Walace is slow; he’s an enemy to rapid passing.” These sentiments illustrate a growing frustration within the fanbase.
Looking ahead, Cruzeiro is set to face Mirassol on March 29, 2025, at their home field, the Mineirão, in their opening match of the Campeonato Brasileiro at 18:30. Following that, they will travel to Argentina to compete against Unión Santa Fé in the Sul-Americana on April 1, 2025, at 19:00.
Bragantino, on the other hand, plans to start their season on March 31, 2025, against Ceará, keen to build on this friendly match's insights.
The competitive nature of this friendly, with both teams exchanging solid plays and opportunities, proved beneficial for both coaches, Fernando Seabra of Red Bull Bragantino and Jardim of Cruzeiro, as they continue to prepare their squads for the upcoming season. In summary, both teams demonstrated some quality while also highlighting areas in need of improvement.
