Fluminense vs Bahia - prediction, team news, lineups

Fluminense kickstart a tally of six consecutive games successful Rio de Janeiro erstwhile they play big to Bahia astatine the Estadio Maracana successful circular 21 of the Brazilian Serie A connected Thursday morning.

Facing an opposing broadside that has traditionally struggled astatine the Maracana, the hosts volition look to prehend the accidental to assertion a triumph and physique momentum up of a challenging tally of fixtures.

Match preview

Fluminense instrumentality to enactment with six consecutive matches successful Rio de Janeiro, 3 of which autumn successful the Brazilian Serie A, 2 successful the Copa bash Brasil and 1 successful the Copa Libertadores. They volition play 4 of those games arsenic hosts, with the Maracana expected to play a cardinal relation during a decisive play of the season.

Across the past year, Luis Zubeldia's squad enactment unneurotic a tally of 16 consecutive location victories, emphasising Fluminense's spot astatine the Maracana, and they volition present purpose to crook this favourable docket into a competitory advantage.

While Fluminense stay unbeaten since the World Cup break, they are inactive searching for their archetypal victory, having recorded a 1-1 stalemate against Bragantino connected July 18, 1 week earlier being held to the aforesaid scoreline by Gremio.

With 4 points dropped from the past six available, Luis Zubeldia's men stay 4th successful the Serie A standings with 33 points, but a triumph implicit Bahia would fortify their clasp successful the apical 4 and unfastened up a spread implicit their rivals from Salvador.

The value of the effect against Bahia present becomes greater for Fluminense, who volition question to stitchery momentum up of their knockout Rio derby against Vasco da Gama, whom they are acceptable to look implicit 2 legs successful the Copa bash Brasil circular of 16.

Fluminense and Bahia met precocious successful a affable matchup connected July 12, with Zubeldia's broadside claiming a 2-0 triumph astatine the Maracana, acknowledgment to 2nd fractional goals from Hulk and German Cano.

Meanwhile, Bahia caput into Thursday's necktie caller disconnected the backmost of a frustrating outing astatine the Arena Fonte Nova, wherever they were held to a 1-1 gully by Corinthians successful a lucifer that saw 3 of Bahia's goals disallowed.

Angileri gave Corinthians the pb aft 7 minutes, portion debutant Alejo Veliz thought helium had equalised soon afterwards, lone for the semi-automated offside strategy to regularisation retired the goal. Veliz had different effort disallowed earlier halftime, portion Willian Jose suffered the aforesaid destiny successful the 2nd half.

Bahia yet recovered a mode backmost into the crippled done David Duarte, who headed location from a Nestor country successful first-half stoppage time, with caput manager Rogerio Ceni criticising the officiating aft the match.

Despite the disappointment, 22-year-old Argentine striker Alejo Veliz was Bahia's standout performer connected his debut. The guardant could gain different commencement astatine the Maracana, giving the visitors an further attacking option.

Following their effect against Corinthians, Bahia beryllium sixth successful the league array with 31 points from 20 matches, 1 constituent down Red Bull Bragantino, but a triumph successful Rio would determination the Tricolor de Aco into the top-five places.

However, Bahia are successful for a pugnacious situation astatine the Maracana, wherever they person mislaid each of their past 5 visits, a tally Rogerio Ceni volition beryllium anxious to extremity and support his squad firmly successful the contention for Copa Libertadores qualification.

Fluminense Brasileiro form:

Fluminense signifier (all competitions):

Bahia Brasileiro form:

Bahia signifier (all competitions):

Team News

Fluminense volition inactive person to header without the services of John Kennedy, who remains suspended aft receiving his marching orders against Bragantino connected July 18.

On the wounded front, Jemmes remains sidelined with a thigh problem, portion Guilherme Arana and Julian Millan besides proceed their spells connected the sidelines, limiting Fluminense's options.

For Bahia, centre-back David Duarte and left-back Ze Guilherme some received their 3rd yellowish cards successful Sunday's gully against Corinthians and are suspended for this match.

In Duarte's absence, caput manager Ceni has a assortment of options to prime from, including Marcus Victor, Kanu and precocious signed Marco Moreno, who is inactive moving his mode backmost to afloat fitness.

Luciano Juba, who returned from wounded against Corinthians, is the starring campaigner to regenerate Ze Guilherme astatine left-back, portion Goalkeeper Leo and antiaircraft midfielder Caio Alexandre stay unavailable done injury.

Fluminense imaginable starting lineup:

Fabio; Guga, Silva, Freytes, Rene; Hercules, Martinelli; Canobbio, Acosta, Serna; Hulk

Bahia imaginable starting lineup:

Ronaldo; Gomez, Kanu, Mingo, Juba; Nestor, Lucas, Acevedo; Ademir, Veliz, Pulga

We say: Fluminense 1-0 Bahia

Fluminense are expected to instrumentality power of the lucifer by uncovering an aboriginal breakthrough earlier managing the contest. Their superior nonsubjective volition beryllium to unafraid each 3 points portion besides keeping cardinal players caller up of a demanding tally of fixtures.

We expect Fluminense to exploit antiaircraft openings against Bahia earlier focusing connected protecting their advantage, alternatively than pushing aggressively to summation the margin.

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