Two teams with contrasting Brasileiro ambitions this season will collide in gameweek 21 when Fluminense face off against Bahia at Estadio Jornalista Mario Filho on Sunday evening.
The hosts are looking to move out of the relegation zone, currently second bottom in the league standings, while the visitors are seventh and aiming to move back into Copa Libertadores qualification contention.
Match preview
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The 2024 Brasileiro season looked destined to be a complete nightmare for Fluminense, who up until the middle of July had only managed to win one of their 16 top-flight matches.
However, things have started to look up for O Flu in recent weeks as they have now managed to win three league games in a row, all by way of a 1-0 scoreline, against Cuiaba, Palmeiras and RB Bragantino.
Those results have allowed the 2023 Copa Libertadores winners to move to 17 points after 19 games, and a victory this weekend will likely see them hop out of the drop zone for the first time this season.
Owing to their dismal form over the first half of the season, the club opted to part ways with Fernando Diniz after two years in charge with Mano Menezes being brought in to steady the ship on July 1.
So far, the 62-year-old has done a stellar job, suffering only one league defeat since his appointment, and helping the side pick up 11 points in their last five matches, which is four more than his predecessor managed across the entire first half of the season.
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When these sides met back in April, Bahia came from behind to sneak a 2-1 victory before setting off on a run of seven matches unbeaten in all competitions, six of which ended in victory.
Tricolor Bahiaco, now under the ownership of the famous City Football Group, have been one of the surprise packages this season, currently on 32 points in 20 games after avoiding relegation by the slenderest of margins last season.
However, Rogerio Ceni's side's form has begun to wane in recent weeks, as their 1-1 draw against Internacional last weekend was their fourth consecutive league match without victory and caused them to slip out of the top six.
Additionally, despite their improvement this season, Bahia's away record has been below average with only two wins posted in 10 matches on the road, along with four draws and four defeats.
Notably, Tricolor Bahiaco have failed to maintain a single clean sheet in away games this season, and the 17 goals they have allowed is the second-most of any side in the top flight, just one less than second-bottom Corinthians.
Team News
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There is a case to be made that Fluminense's improvement in defence has been largely attributable to the introduction of Thiago Silva. Since the former Chelsea centre-back returned to O Flu, they have yet to concede a league goal.
Silva is almost certain to continue at the heart of defence alongside Thiago Santos this week, while Menezes will be unable to call upon German Cano, David Terans and Felipe Melo, all of whom are sidelined due to injury.
Nicolas Acevedo has not played a single match for Bahia this year after sustaining a cruciate ligament tear in December, and he is set to remain on the treatment table until the end of September.
Joining the Bahia attacker on the sideline this weekend are injury absentees Cicinho, Ademir and Rezende, while Kanu has been flagged as a doubt owing to a head injury.
Fluminense possible starting lineup:
Fabio; Xavier, Silva, Santos, Barbosa; Martinelli, Trinadade, Serna, Ganso, Arias; Elias
Bahia possible starting lineup:
Felipe; Gilberto, Cuesta, Xavier, Juba; Ribeiro, Alexandre, Lucas, Cauly; Thaciano, Everaldo
We say: Fluminense 1-0 Bahia
While Fluminense's 15 goals scored this season remains the second-worst tally in the division, they have improved significantly in defence since the arrival of Thiago Silva and we feel they will be able to notch up another narrow victory in this one.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Devesh Jaganath
