CRB vs Fortaleza EC - Copa Do Brasil

CRB prepare to host Fortaleza EC at the home ground on May 14, 2026, with both sides eager to assert their credentials and claim a result that could define their Copa Do Brasil season. Just as was the case in the previous meeting between the teams in April of last year, when Emery's side gave them such a scare in the Champions League tie at Villa Park, PSG were hanging on at the end.

Both CRB and Fortaleza EC will be eager to build momentum when they meet in Copa Do Brasil. CRB will be keen to seize the initiative and build some momentum on home soil. The visitors will travel in the hope that a change of scene can spark a turnaround, whatever the form book says. He was sacked by Fiorentina after Che Adams' late goal for Torino left them bottom of the Serie A table with three defeats out of three.

Pressing intensity will define the contest. CRB will seek to win the ball high up the pitch and suffocate Fortaleza EC's build-up, while the visitors will aim to play through the pressure and exploit the spaces it leaves behind. There is interest in adding another forward player who can play in one of those wide No 10 roles behind the striker in the 3-4-2-1 formation that Sage is expected to continue with at Selhurst Park.

Individual quality could tip the balance. The league's leading scorer Carlos Vinícius, 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. The five-goal thrashing of Valencia featured some standout performers with Pedri applauded off by the home fans at Mestalla.

Without the market to lean on, the contest feels genuinely open — and the outcome may come down to which side handles the occasion better. A share of the spoils looks the most probable outcome, with neither side holding a decisive edge — a 1-1 draw feels like a fitting result. More than just three points is on the line at the home ground — this is a fixture that could shape the narrative of both clubs' seasons. It is understood that his next move is most likely to take him abroad - and potentially to the Premier League.