Bahia vs Palmeiras – News and Probable Lineups

This Sunday, two of the top three teams in the Brasileiro are set to clash as Palmeiras, currently flying high, visit Arena Fonte Nova to challenge Bahia in the tenth round.

The home side recently reclaimed third place with an impressive 3-0 victory against Athletico Paranaense, while the visitors remain at the summit of the standings, having secured seven wins from their first nine matches.

Match overview

Following a disappointing 4-1 loss to Remo in matchday eight, Bahia made a strong comeback with a decisive 3-0 triumph over Athletico Paranaense last Wednesday, alleviating the pressure on Rogerio Ceni’s team.

Everaldo and Luciano Juba proved instrumental for Tricolor, with Everaldo netting two goals in the first half. They are both Bahia’s joint-top scorers this season, each having found the net three times.

Maior do Nordeste’s latest victory ensured they maintained an unbeaten home record in the Brasileiro, boasting two wins and two draws.

Similar to their previous campaign where they qualified for the Copa Libertadores, the Steel Squad have made a promising start, currently holding third place with 17 points.

Recently, Ceni lauded his squad’s effort and resolve after they showcased a solid performance following a period of inconsistency.

Leo Vieira was one of the new faces on the field against Athletico Paranaense. After seven appearances with Chapecoense, he made his debut for Bahia.

He achieved four saves without conceding in his debut match, and the 35-year-old will play a vital role in Bahia’s hopes of overcoming the league leaders and securing their standings near the top of the table.

Palmeiras’ strong form continued with a 2-1 win over Gremio, significantly aided by Marlon Freitas.

The midfielder scored both goals for Palmeiras, securing their seventh league victory of the season.

Beyond leading the table, Abel Ferreira’s squad maintains a perfect home record, consistently impressing on their own ground.

Nevertheless, they are conceding an average of one goal per game, with Carlos Vinicius scoring for Gremio to keep this trend alive.

Ferreira will return to the sidelines on Sunday after serving a suspension for receiving his third yellow card against Sao Paulo.

The fixture against Bahia is the beginning of a challenging eight-match April timetable involving three tournaments: the Brasileiro, Copa Libertadores, and Copa do Brasil.

Consequently, squad management is expected to be a critical task for the coaching staff as they aim to sustain their positive results.

Team News

Bahia welcomes Palmeiras with two confirmed absentees: forward Ruan Pablo and goalkeeper Ronaldo, both unable to play due to injuries.

Ronaldo sustained a dislocated shoulder while making a save against Remo, and he is anticipated to be out for three months.

However, Kanu and Mateo Sanabria have returned to training after recovering from injuries and may be included in the matchday squad.

Rogerio Ceni has no new injury or suspension issues and could field an unchanged starting XI as Bahia aims for three home points.

For Palmeiras, Vitor Roque is likely to remain unavailable due to an ankle injury.

The forward spent the international break recuperating but missed the game against Gremio, with no timeline established for his return.

With left-back Piquerez recovering from ankle surgery and his immediate replacement Jefte recently suffering a thigh issue, Artur is expected to start on Sunday.

Bahia probable starting XI:

Scallop; Acevedo, Mingo, Gabriel, Juba; Alexandre, Erick, Lucas; Oliveira, Pulga, Everaldo

Palmeiras probable starting XI:

Miguel; Giay, Fuchs, Gomez, Arthur; Freitas, Pereira; ARIAS, Mauricio, Allan; Lopez

This match is set to be a tightly contested affair, with Bahia having a solid home record and Palmeiras being the most consistent team in the Brasileiro thus far. The recent form of both teams suggests that opportunities could arise at both ends throughout the 90 minutes.

Bahia has managed to draw against Palmeiras in five of their last eight encounters at Fonte Nova, and a repeat result seems plausible here.