Fortaleza vs Bahia – Match Preview

Fortaleza is set to host Bahia at the Castelao for a crucial Serie A Round 27 match on Friday, with the game starting at 00:00 GMT. Currently in third place with 49 points, Fortaleza has been performing well this season. Bahia, in sixth place with 42 points, is also putting up a strong fight. Both teams are keen to win this match. Fortaleza aims to strengthen their position in the top four, while Bahia hopes to narrow the gap and possibly overtake their rivals.

Fortaleza – Form

Fortaleza’s recent performance has been a mix of outcomes. They faced a 0:2 defeat at home against Corinthians in a Serie A match on September 18, as expected by bookmakers. Before this, they played against Internacional on September 11, where they lost 2:1 away, despite a goal from Titi just before the break. Their match on September 14 against Athletico Paranaense ended in a 1:1 draw, with Moises Vieira scoring early. These results have been in line with bookmakers’ predictions, indicating a tough period for the team.

Bahia – Form

Bahia’s recent away games have been challenging, with two losses and a draw. They lost 1-0 to Flamengo in a Cup match on September 13, 2024, which matched bookmakers’ expectations. Before this, they were narrowly defeated 2-1 by Red Bull Bragantino in Serie A on September 1, despite a goal from Luciano. Their game against Flamengo on August 29 also ended in a 1-0 loss, disappointing against the odds. These away games have shown Bahia’s struggle to secure a win, with outcomes predicted accurately by bookmakers.

Fortaleza – Bahia – Head to Head

The last game between Fortaleza and Bahia was on June 14, 2024, with Bahia securing a 1:0 win in a Serie A match. In their last 10 encounters, Bahia has won 5 times, Fortaleza has won 2, and 3 matches ended in draws. The recent matches have seen both teams scoring in 3 out of the last 5 games. Notably, Fortaleza has managed to avoid defeat in 7 of their last 9 home games against Bahia. Also, more than 2.5 goals were scored in 10 of the last 12 matches at Fortaleza’s home ground.

Fortaleza – Bahia – Standings

The standings are intriguing as we head into Round 27 at the Castelao. Fortaleza, in third place with 49 points from 26 matches, has been impressive, especially in defense, conceding only 25 goals. This performance is better than many expected at the season’s start. Bahia, in sixth place with 42 points from the same number of matches, has scored 37 times but conceded slightly more than Fortaleza. The seven-point difference between the teams sets the stage for a competitive match, with both teams looking to exceed preseason expectations.

Fortaleza vs Bahia – Top scorers

Fortaleza’s attack is led by Juan Martin Lucero, who has scored 8 times this season. Tomas Pochettino and Breno Lopes have each added 4 goals. Renato Kayzer has contributed 3 goals, and Yago Pikachu has scored twice from defense. For Bahia, Everaldo leads with 7 goals. Thaciano has found the net 6 times, showing his midfield strength. Gabriel Teixeira has scored 4 goals, while Luciano and Jean Lucas have each added 3, highlighting the team’s scoring diversity.

Fortaleza vs Bahia – Full-Time Betting

Bookmakers favor Fortaleza slightly, with odds of 2.25 for a home win. A Bahia victory is at 3.10, and a draw is at 3.50. Despite mixed recent form, Fortaleza’s strong home record and third-place standing make them contenders. However, Bahia’s recent win and head-to-head advantage could turn the tables, especially with Fortaleza’s key players missing. The “halftime-fulltime” bet offers odds of 3.00 for a home team lead at both intervals. The “draw-no-bet” option for Fortaleza is at 1.615, offering a fallback in case of a draw. The “double-chance” bet, covering either team to win, is also at 1.615, catering to those expecting a clear outcome.

Fortaleza vs Bahia – Over/Under Betting

The “Over 2.5” goals option is priced at 2.15, indicating an expectation of a moderately high-scoring game. The history between Fortaleza and Bahia supports this, with most games seeing over 2.5 goals. Fortaleza has scored 32 and conceded 25 in 26 matches, while Bahia has 37 goals for and 27 against. Given that both teams have scored in 6 of the last 8 home matches for Fortaleza against Bahia, the “Over 2.5” bet at 2.15 is attractive for those anticipating a goal-rich game.

Fortaleza vs Bahia – BTTS Betting

The odds for “Both Teams To Score (BTTS)” are 1.95 for ‘Yes’ and 1.80 for ‘No’. This reflects a balanced view among bookmakers. The history at Castelao shows both teams scoring in 6 of their last 8 meetings. Despite Fortaleza’s varied home results, Bahia’s scoring ability suggests a good chance of goals from both teams. Thus, “BTTS: Yes” at 1.95 seems slightly more probable for this match.

Fortaleza vs Bahia – Prediction