Prediction: Bahia vs Corinthians

Verdict: Draw

Best odds: 2/1

Bookmaker: Olympusbet

Bahia are set to play host to Corinthians at the Fonte Nova Arena on Saturday, in what will be a game within round 16 of the Brazilian Serie A, though for the visitors, it will be the 15th game of the 2023 season.

Bahia

This will be an opportunity for Bahia to put a stop to a woeful spell of form, after they failed to win any of their last six games in all competitions.

After their 2-0 defeat to Athletico Paranaense last weekend, the team from Salvador finds themselves in a precarious position in the Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A standings, just one point above the relegation zone. However, they are also just two points behind Time do Povo, who have not played a league fixture since their 1-0 victory over Atletico Mineiro on July 8.

Bahia’s return to the top flight of Brazilian football has been marked by a series of close and hard-fought matches. Unfortunately, they have often found themselves on the losing end, with five of their domestic contests this year ending in defeat by just a single goal. They have also squandered six points when leading in the second half, which has been a source of frustration for the team.

Despite the challenging results, Bahia’s wait-and-see approach in their domestic matches has allowed them to stay competitive and give themselves a chance to win most of their encounters. However, the pressure they have sustained throughout the season has taken its toll, as they have conceded three winning goals with 20 minutes or fewer remaining in matches.

Their record at home has been more promising, with two of their three domestic victories coming at their own stadium. Notably, they secured a notable 1-0 win against the reigning league champions Palmeiras in June, their only clean sheet in domestic competition this year.

Facing Corinthians at home has been a positive experience for Bahia, as they are unbeaten in their last five top-flight encounters against them in Salvador and have not suffered a loss to them at the Fonte Nova Arena since 2014.

One of the challenges for Bahia has been finishing their scoring chances, as they have scored multiple goals in only three domestic matches. Curiously, they have managed to win just one of those contests, highlighting the need for more clinical finishing in front of goal.

Overall, Bahia’s return to Serie A has been characterized by competitive performances and narrow margins, and they will be looking to turn those close encounters into positive results as they continue to fight for points and maintain their position in the top division.

Team News

Vitor Jacare and Biel were unavailable for the previous match due to muscle issues, while David Duarte is in the process of recovering from a sprained meniscus. Additionally, Danilo Fernandes has been nursing a sore thigh.

Despite these challenges, Bahia managed to secure a victory in their previous domestic home fixture, with Kayky scoring the decisive goal. The young forward’s goal was his second of the season, which puts him in a tie for first place on the team’s scoring chart alongside Biel, Everaldo, and Thaciano.

Corinthians

Corinthians will be aiming to continue their positive momentum after a successful run in other competitions during their two-week break from Serie A action. Under the guidance of Vanderlei Luxemburgo, they have managed to turn things around, securing four consecutive victories in competitive fixtures after a challenging start to the season.

In away matches, Corinthians have demonstrated either solid defensive performances or tentative attacking play. They have kept clean sheets in two of their last three Serie A away games but have struggled to score, failing to find the net in four of their last six league matches on the road.

Their upcoming fixture against Bahia will present a challenge, as they have struggled in their previous visits to Salvador, managing to claim only one out of a possible 15 points since 2017. However, Luxemburgo will be encouraged by the recent quality shown by his players, with Corinthians scoring five goals in their last two competitive matches and finding the net in four successive games across all competitions.

Despite their overall low goal tally in Serie A this season, Corinthians will be looking to capitalize on their recent form and secure back-to-back away victories in the league for the first time this campaign.

Team News

Corinthians will be missing Gustavo Silva and Paulinho through ACL injuries, and Chrystian Barletta remains sidelined with a sprained knee.

In their previous domestic match against Atletico Mineiro, Roger Guedes scored the only goal, securing a 1-0 victory, and goalkeeper Cassio made six saves to keep a clean sheet. However, striker Yuri Alberto has struggled to find the net in the current season, having scored only twice in Serie A in 2023 after an impressive tally of eight goals last year.

In their recent Copa Sudamericana fixture against Universitario, Corinthians managed to advance with goals from Maycon and Ryan. Despite the two red cards received in that match by Matheus Araujo and Ryan, both players will be available to feature in Saturday’s Serie A game.

Conclusion

Bahia and Corinthians have struggled to convert their chances into goals consistently, which has contributed to their positions near the bottom of the standings. However, Corinthians have shown resilience and determination in recent matches, responding well to setbacks and finding ways to win.

With Corinthians coming off a successful run in the Copa do Brasil and Copa Sudamericana and displaying improved scoring form in their last few games, they might have the edge going into the match against Bahia. The extra days of rest for Bahia could benefit them, but Corinthians’ recent ability to bounce back from setbacks may prove crucial in this encounter.

Ultimately, it could be a closely contested match.

Verdict: Draw

Best odds: 2/1

Bookmaker: Olympusbet