Santos U17, playing at home, will look to control possession through their midfield, with playmaker Gabriel Silva dictating tempo. Their defense has been solid but vulnerable to quick counter-attacks, as seen in recent losses.

Cruzeiro U17, with a strong away record, rely on pace of winger João Pedro and clinical finishing of striker Matheus. They tend to sit deep and hit on the break, which could exploit Santos' high line.

Given the league's tendency for low-scoring, tight matches, a draw seems plausible, with both teams having equal attacking output.