Cruzeiro 3-1 Athletico PR: Match Report, Goals, Stats and Ratings
Brasileirão Matchday 26 · Sunday 6 September 2026 · Estádio Governador Magalhães Pinto, Belo Horizonte · referee D. Muniz dos Santos · full time
Full time: Cruzeiro 3-1 Athletico PR
Cruzeiro beat Athletico PR 3-1 in Brasileirão Matchday 26 on Sunday 6 September 2026 at Estádio Governador Magalhães Pinto. The goals: Matheus Pereira 30', João Cruz 45+1', Lucas Romero 71', Kaio Jorge 82'.
How Cruzeiro won it
The opening goal came in the 30th minute: Matheus Pereira for Cruzeiro, set up by Gerson. Athletico PR levelled at 1-1 in the 45th minute (+1) through João Cruz. Lucas Romero made it 2-1 to Cruzeiro in the 71st minute, set up by Matheus Pereira. Kaio Jorge from the penalty spot made it 3-1 to Cruzeiro in the 82nd minute.
It was 1-1 at half-time, and the second half changed the result.
The referee, D. Muniz dos Santos, showed 4 yellow cards: 2 to Cruzeiro and 2 to Athletico PR. Matheus Pereira missed a penalty for Cruzeiro in the 45 minute.
Cruzeiro: Artur Jorge, 4-2-3-1 · Athletico PR: O. Hellmann, 3-4-2-1.
Moneyball's prediction against the result
Moneyball did not publish a pre-match estimate for this match, so there is nothing to mark it against.
Why it went this way
On the day the expected goals were 1.40 for Cruzeiro and 2.95 for Athletico PR.
Cruzeiro scored about 1.6 more than their chances were worth: clinical finishing, or a goalkeeper having a bad day.
Athletico PR left about 1.9 goals' worth of chances on the pitch.
Athletico PR created the better chances, 2.95 xG to 1.40, and still lost. On chances alone, the result could easily have gone the other way.
Cruzeiro had 6 shots on target, Athletico PR 7.
Cruzeiro's goalkeeper made 6 saves.
Cruzeiro had 61% of the ball and turned it into the win.
Where the two sides stood before this match
Cruzeiro came into it with 32 Brasileirão matches played, scoring 1.6 and conceding 1.4 a match, with 1.45 expected goals for and 1.62 against, and had won 50% of their matches.
Athletico PR came into it with 32 Brasileirão matches played, scoring 1.6 and conceding 1.2 a match, with 1.34 expected goals for and 1.50 against, and had won 47% of their matches.
Cruzeiro vs Athletico PR: the match in numbers
| Cruzeiro | Match statistics | Athletico PR |
|---|---|---|
| 61% | Ball possession | 39% |
| 1.40 | Expected goals (xG) | 2.95 |
| 20 | Total shots | 17 |
| 6 | Shots on target | 7 |
| 5 | Big chances | 2 |
| 585 | Total passes | 382 |
| 88% | Pass accuracy | 82% |
| 7 | Corners | 2 |
| 9 | Fouls | 14 |
| 1 | Offsides | 2 |
| 10 | Tackles | 12 |
| 6 | Saves | 3 |
| 2 | Yellow cards | 2 |
Team statistics from Sportmonks.
Player ratings and man of the match
Man of the match: Matheus Pereira (Cruzeiro), rated 8.6 by Sportmonks, with 1 goal, 1 assist.
Cruzeiro
- Matheus Pereira 8.6 1 goal, 1 assist
- Lucas Romero 7.8 1 goal
- Kaio Jorge 7.5
- Otávio Costa 7.5
- Gerson 7.3 1 assist
Athletico PR
- Gilberto 7.4
- João Cruz 7.3 1 goal
- Leozinho 7.1
- Juan Portilla 6.8
- Luiz Gustavo 6.7
The lowest-rated starter was Juan Felipe Aguirre at 6.2. Ratings run from 0 to 10; around 7.0 is a solid match.
What comes next
- Cruzeiro: Atlético Mineiro vs Cruzeiro Thursday 29 October 2026 · Brasileirão
- Athletico PR: Grêmio vs Athletico PR Friday 30 October 2026 · Brasileirão
Each preview has Moneyball's estimate for the next match, published before kick-off and marked against the result afterwards, as this one is.
Questions about Cruzeiro vs Athletico PR
What was the score in Cruzeiro vs Athletico PR?
Cruzeiro 3-1 Athletico PR (half-time 1-1), Brasileirão, Sunday 6 September 2026.
Who scored in Cruzeiro vs Athletico PR?
Matheus Pereira 30', João Cruz 45+1', Lucas Romero 71', Kaio Jorge 82'.
Did Moneyball predict Cruzeiro vs Athletico PR correctly?
Moneyball did not publish a pre-match estimate for this match, so there is nothing to mark it against.
Who was man of the match in Cruzeiro vs Athletico PR?
Matheus Pereira, rated 8.6 by Sportmonks.
Who refereed Cruzeiro vs Athletico PR?
D. Muniz dos Santos.
Every match, before and after
Moneyball Odds writes a preview with its estimate before every match of Europe's top five leagues and the European cups, then marks it against the result, hits and misses alike.
Moneyball Odds is a statistical analysis site, not a bookmaker. No model predicts football reliably. For readers aged 18 and over.