Ceará vs Fortaleza prediction: teams form analysis, possible lineups on May 18, 2026
Serie B Brazil
In the 9th round of Brazil's Serie B on May 18, 2026, Ceará and Fortaleza will face off. In this derby, the visitors will surely aim for a win.
Ceará vs Fortaleza: Team News and Expert Analysis
The club from "Castelão" was relegated last season, falling short by just one point to Internacional and finishing in seventeenth place. Currently, they rarely win, but lose even less often, with draws being common. However, they lost to Atlético Goianiense in the last round. Even in the cup, despite winning the return leg against Atlético Mineiro, they ultimately lost on penalties.
Their neighbors, having collected the same 43 points in 2025, also left the Brasileirão that year but from eighteenth place. However, they are now looking much better, especially recently. They only managed a draw against Avaí, but then advanced past CRB in the cup.
Mozart's team averages about one goal scored for every goal conceded. Their neighbors, meanwhile, score 1.25 goals per game while conceding 1.0 on average.
Previous Meetings: Ceará vs Fortaleza
There have been four draws in recent derbies, with the current home side winning 2-0 in the Northeast Cup back in April.
The visitors aren't seen as strong favorites, but their current form is good and they will certainly want to continue their successful run by taking more points from this head-to-head clash—ideally all three. We suggest betting on their win with a "0" handicap (odds – 1.65).
Ceará vs Fortaleza: Key Stats and Trends
- Ceará have lost three of their last four games
- Fortaleza have drawn their last two matches
Ceará vs Fortaleza: Probable Starting Lineups
Ceará's likely formation is 1-4-2-3-1 (probable lineup): Dinis - Sanches, Otavio, Eder, Ramos - Zanoselo, Lima - Araujo, Melk, Fernandinho - Wendel
Fortaleza's likely formation is 1-4-3-2-1 (probable lineup): Vinicius - Gazal, Kaia, Brites, Bahia - Ryan, Pierre, Mailton - Pochettino, Mukuri - Mirittelo
Place your bet on the upcoming match and follow the team's progress in the Brazil Serie B league table
