Sports Mole previews Thursday’s Brasileiro clash between Bahia and Vasco da Gama, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Round 12 of the 2024 Brasileiro season sees Bahia and Vasco da Gama square up against each other at the Arena Fonte Nova on Thursday.
Both teams head into this one off the back of respective victories last time out and will be looking to pick up where they left off.
Match preview
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Bahia ran out emphatic winners against Cruzeiro courtesy of a comprehensive 4-1 thrashing in Sunday’s encounter.
Rogerio Ceni‘s men fell behind to Gabriel Veron‘s early opener but went into the interval on level terms thanks to Thaciano‘s strike after which Oscar Estupinian‘s second-half double either side of a Biel goal decided the game.
Consequently, Maior do Nordeste have moved up to third spot in the Brasileiro table and remain three points shy of early leaders Flamengo.
Lying in store next is the challenge of an opposing outfit who boast just one win from the last eight editions of this fixture since 2019.
Victorious in all but one of their most recent seven matches on home turf, Thursday’s hosts are flying in front of their fans at the moment and will certainly take some stopping here.
Vasco da Gama snapped a four-game winless run with a 4-1 triumph over Sao Paulo at Sao Januario in the early hours of Sunday.
After going behind to Andre Silva‘s effort, Alvaro Pacheco‘s men turned the game on its head thanks to an Alan Franco own goal and Guilherme Estrella‘s strike before second-half goals from Leandrinho and David sealed the deal.
With 15 points amassed from 11 matches so far, O Legitimo Clube do Povo sit ninth in the standings but are within touching distance of a Copa Libertadores spot.
Having failed to win any of their last seven matches on the road since late February, Thursday’s visitors will be keen to turn their away fortunes around.
Bahia Brasileiro form:
Bahia form (all competitions):
Vasco da Gama Brasileiro form:
Vasco da Gama form (all competitions):
Team News
Oscar Estupinian came off the bench to score twice for Bahia last time out which could see the Colombian rewarded with a starting berth here.
Long-term absentee Nicolas Acevedo remains sidelined with a knee problem and is still a considerable way off making a return to action.
Vasco da Gama’s Praxedes continues to battle with a knee problem, while fellow midfielder Jair misses out through a thigh injury.
The away side will also be without the services of 19-year-old Paulinho who has been on the sidelines since the final week of January.
Bahia possible starting lineup:
Felipe; Gilberto, Xavier, Kanu, Juba; Alexandre, Lucas, De Pena, Cauly; Everaldo, Thaciano
Vasco da Gama possible starting lineup:
Jardim; Henrique, Victor, Maicon, Piton; Moura, Carvalho, Estrella; Adson, Vegetti, David
We say: Bahia 3-1 Vasco da Gama
Bahia boast the best home record in the division and are one of only two teams still perfect in front of their fans this term. We can see them cruising to a relatively comfortable win in the end.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.