Both Bahia and Juventude will be looking to get back to winning ways when they meet at the Fonte Nova Arena on Thursday.

The hosts currently occupy the final automatic Copa Libertadores spot in the Brasileiro, while the visitors are clinging onto the last Copa Sudamericana qualification place.

Match preview

Bahia enjoyed an eight-match unbeaten run after losing their opening game of the season to Internacional, winning five games and drawing three during this period, establishing themselves as early contenders for the Serie A title.

However, their good form was halted by a defeat to league leaders Flamengo, and they recorded another loss to Sao Paulo in their last league outing, ending their run of successive victories over Cruzeiro and Vasco da Gama.

These defeats have seen Tricolor Baiano drop to fourth place with 24 points from 13 matches played, level on points with third-placed Botafogo, but three points adrift of the top spot.

Rogerio Ceni's men head into Thursday's clash having not lost consecutive matches in this Serie A campaign - additionally, they have a perfect home record with six wins from six matches on their own soil.

The Salvador-based side have had the upper hand in this fixture in recent years, currently on a five-match unbeaten run against Thursday's opponents, with three wins and two draws.

Newly-promoted Juventude have struggled for consistency in Serie A so far, particularly over the last five matchdays where they have failed to record the same result in consecutive matches.

Roger Machado's side have alternated between wins and defeats in their last five games, losing three and winning two, an inconsistent run that has seen them drop further down the table.

The visitors come into the match off the back of an away defeat to Fortaleza and this result leaves them in 12th place with 16 points from 12 matches played.

Of greater concern for Juve will be their away form, as they are yet to record a victory on the road, having lost four and drawn two of their six away matches this season.

Team News

Bahia will remain without Santiago Arias who is currently away on international duty with Colombia at the 2024 Copa America.

Due to his absence, Gilberto Junior will continue at full-back in the four-man defence after scoring his first goal of the season in the defeat to Sao Paulo.

Everaldo is the team's top-scorer this season with five goals and he is expected to start in a two-man attack alongside Thaciano.

Juventude have a number of injury issues, with Kleiton (knee), Edson Carioca (knee) and Marcelinho (hamstring) all sidelined until later this month.

Ewerton came off the bench to find the net in the loss to Fortaleza, and this could help him stake a claim to start at right-back in this clash.

Bahia possible starting lineup:
Felipe; Junior, Xavier, Kanu, Luciano; Alexandre, Lucas, Ribeiro, Souza; Everaldo, Thaciano

Juventude possible starting lineup:
Gabriel; Ewerton, Boza, Marcos, Inocencio; Caique, Jadson, Jean; Farias, Bill, Barbosa

We say: Bahia 2-1 Juventude

Bahia have had a strong campaign thus far and are favourites going into this clash, despite their recent defeat - their perfect home record is a testament to their ruthlessness on home soil, and this will likely be too much to handle for Juventude, who have struggled on the road.


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