REF’s picks

Ceará hold the upper hand here as they return to home turf, where their recent performances against high-flying sides like Novorizontino have shown resilience. Criciúma arrive in mixed away form, having leaked heavy goals on their travels against promotion rivals. Back the hosts on the -0.25 handicap to edge a tight contest.

1. 1Ceará boast a strong historical head-to-head record against Criciúma without losing any of their last five encounters.
2. 2Criciúma's recent away defeats, notably a 4-0 thrashing by Atlético Goianiense, expose defensive vulnerabilities on the road.
3. 3Ceará have struggled to turn draws into wins lately, leaving room for a potential stalemate if they fail to finish their chances.

REF's own opinion, not a guarantee — nothing here is financial or betting advice, and the call is always yours.