Caxias vs Anápolis - Serie C

All eyes turn to the home ground on June 30, 2026 as Caxias welcome Anápolis in a Serie C encounter that promises tension, intrigue and no shortage of subplot. Maresca needs the qualitative depth to meet the demands of a season across 60-plus games.

Caxias head into the contest positioned 14th in the Serie C standings, while Anápolis arrive sitting 18th. Consistency has eluded Caxias in recent weeks, with DLLWL in their last five and a win rate of 31.58% that tells of an up-and-down campaign. The visitors have been hard to predict on their travels, DWLWW in their last five reflecting a win rate of 26.32%. Goals could be in short supply or plentiful — Caxias average 0.89 per game to Anápolis's 0.89, and that gap may dictate the rhythm of the contest. Sky Sports columnist Laura Hunter analyses the big talking points from the first round of Women's Super League matches, bringing you closer to the key stories at the heart of the women's game.

Tactically, the contest promises a fascinating contrast. Caxias will look to impose their style on home soil, while Anápolis are likely to have ideas of their own about how to gain the upper hand. They were slightly found out against Amorim's Milan in pre-season, with the press not quite sharp enough - the fourth goal, in particular, came from just one ball over a high-lined defence.

Individual quality could tip the balance. The league's leading scorer N. Schiappacasse, with 3 goals to his name this season, is a reminder of the firepower on display. Discipline at the back and sharpness in front of goal will likely tilt the balance one way or the other. Real Madrid have signed RB Leipzig forward Yan Diomande in a deal worth up to £120m.

Predicting an outright winner is no easy task given how little separates the two sides on paper. The weight of evidence points to Caxias, and a 2-1 win for the hosts feels like the most probable outcome. The result at the home ground could resonate well beyond matchday in the Serie C picture. Important qualities given that Bournemouth will expect him to be proactive.