Bahia can end a six-match winless run in all competitions this Saturday when they return to Itaipava Fonte Nova Arena for a date with Corinthians.
Last weekend the club from Salvador were beaten 2-0 by Athletico Paranaense, putting them just a point above relegation but just two behind Time do Povo, who have not played a Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A fixture since blanking Atletico Mineiro 1-0 on July 8.
Match preview
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The return to the top flight for Bahia has been filled with a series of close calls, though Bahiaco have rarely come out on the winning end, dropping five domestic contests this year by a single goal and letting six points slip away when leading in the second half.
Renato Paiva's men have lost eight of their 15 Serie A encounters this season, just two fewer than this club suffered in the entire 2022 campaign when they finished third in Serie B and were promoted back into the top flight.
Their wait-and-see approach domestically has given them a chance to win most of their domestic encounters, but eventually, all of that pressure sustained has got to them, with Tricolor conceding three winnings goals with 20 minutes or fewer remaining.
Two of their three domestic triumphs in 2023 have occurred at home, the last one being in June when they shut down the reigning league champions Palmeiras 1-0 for their only domestic clean sheet this year.
Bahiaco have held their own when facing Corinthians at home, unbeaten in their last five top-flight encounters against them in Salvador and without a loss to them at Fonte Nova Arena since 2014 (2-1).
Finishing scoring chances has been a problem for them throughout the campaign, scoring multiple goals in only three domestic encounters, though oddly, Bahia only went on to win one of those contests.
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After a two-week hiatus from Serie A action, Corinthians have a chance to win consecutive away fixtures in this competition for the first time all season.
During that time off domestically, Timao have taken care of business elsewhere, advancing into the semi-finals of the Copa do Brasil and also punching their ticket into the last 16 of the Copa Sudamericana.
Following a rough start to his third stint at Corinthians, going winless in his first seven matches in all competitions, Vanderlei Luxemburgo has seen his side settle down a little and find ways to win, claiming victory in four successive competitive fixtures.
When playing away from home in this competition, we have traditionally seen one of two things from this team, either a solid defensive showing or some tentative attacking play, with Timao posting a clean sheet in two of their previous three Serie A road contests while failing to score in four of their last six league games as the visitors.
Corinthians have failed to find the mark in three of their last five visits to Bahia, claiming just one out of a possible 15 points there since 2017.
Though this team have notched the second-fewest goals in Serie A this season (12), Luxemburgo will be encouraged by the quality his players have shown lately, scoring five times in their previous two competitive games, netting at least one in four successive matches in all competitions.
Team News
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Vitor Jacare and Biel sat out of the previous Bahia encounter because of muscle issues, David Duarte is recovering from a sprained meniscus and Danilo Fernandes has a sore thigh.
Kayky had the only goal in their previous domestic home fixture, his second of the season, moving into a tie with Biel, Everaldo and Thaciano for first on the team.
Cicinho, Nicolas Acevedo and Gabriel Xavier all missed their penalty kicks at Gremio as they exited the Copa do Brasil in the quarter-finals last week.
Gustavo Silva and Paulinho are still out for Corinthians due to ACL injuries, while Chrystian Barletta continues to nurse a sprained knee.
Roger Guedes had the only goal in their previous domestic encounter versus Mineiro when Cassio made six stops for the clean sheet, while Yuri Alberto has netted just twice domestically in 2023 after scoring eight a year ago.
Goals from Maycon and Ryan enabled them to squeak past Universitario on Tuesday, and although Matheus Araujo and Ryan were red-carded in that encounter, both will be eligible to feature for Corinthians on Saturday.
Bahia possible starting lineup:
M. Felipe; Andre, Xavier, Kanu, Bahia; Kayky, Acevedo, Rosa, Thaciano; Cauly, Everaldo
Corinthians possible starting lineup:
Cassio; Fagner, Mendez, Gil, Fabio Santos; Vera, Maycon, Oliveira; Adson; Guedes, Alberto
We say: Bahia 1-1 Corinthians
These teams are near the bottom of the standings for a reason, as neither have been able to put their opportunities away consistently.
Although Bahia will have a few extra days to rest, Corinthians have reacted well when faced with a setback lately and we believe they will again come Saturday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Joel Lefevre
