Fluminense vs. Bahia – News and Probable Lineups

Fluminense is set to begin a series of six consecutive fixtures in Rio de Janeiro when they host Bahia at the Estadio Maracana during round 21 of the Brasilian Serie A on Thursday morning.

Against a team that has historically found it difficult to perform at the Maracana, the home side will aim to capitalize on the opportunity to secure a win and gain momentum as they face a demanding set of matches ahead.

Match overview

Fluminense returns to the pitch with six straight games scheduled in Rio de Janeiro, three in the Brasilian Serie A, two in the Copa do Brasil, and one in the Copa Libertadores. They will play four of these matches at home, with the Maracana expected to be a significant factor during this critical period of the season.

Over the past year, Luis Zubeldia’s squad has achieved an impressive string of 16 successive home victories, showcasing Fluminense’s prowess at the Maracana, and they will be looking to convert this favorable run into an edge in competitive terms.

Despite remaining unbeaten since the World Cup break, Fluminense is still in search of their first win, having drawn 1-1 with Bragantino on July 18, followed by another 1-1 draw against Gremio a week later.

After dropping four points from the last six available, Luis Zubeldia’s team sits fourth in the Serie A table with 33 points. A win against Bahia would reinforce their position in the top four and extend the gap over their Salvador rivals.

The stakes against Bahia have increased for Fluminense, who are eager to build some momentum ahead of their knockout Rio derby against Vasco da Gama, which they will contest over two legs in the Copa do Brasil round of 16.

The last encounter between Fluminense and Bahia was a friendly match on July 12, where Zubeldia’s squad secured a 2-0 victory at the Maracana thanks to second-half goals from Hulk and German Cano.

On the other hand, Bahia comes into Thursday’s clash following a disappointing outing at the Arena Fonte Nova, where they were held to a 1-1 draw by Corinthians, a match marred by three disallowed goals for Bahia.

Corinthians took the lead in the seventh minute through Angileri, while debutant Alejo Veliz thought he had leveled the score moments later, but the semi-automated offside system ruled his effort out. Veliz had another goal disallowed before halftime, and Willian Jose faced a similar fate in the second half.

Bahia eventually equalized through David Duarte, who converted from a Nestor corner just before halftime, leading head coach Rogerio Ceni to voice his frustrations about the officiating post-match.

Despite the setback, 22-year-old Alejo Veliz stood out for Bahia on his debut performance and may earn another start at the Maracana, providing the visitors with an extra attacking option.

After their draw with Corinthians, Bahia occupies sixth place in the league table with 31 points from 20 matches, just one point shy of Red Bull Bragantino, but a win in Rio would propel Tricolor de Aco into the top five.

However, Bahia faces a challenging task at the Maracana, where they have suffered defeats in their last five visits. This streak is something Rogerio Ceni will be eager to break as he aims to keep his team in contention for Copa Libertadores qualification.

Team News

Fluminense will be without John Kennedy, who remains suspended following his red card against Bragantino on July 18.

In terms of injuries, Jemmes is sidelined due to a thigh issue, while Guilherme Arana and Julian Millan will also continue to miss out, limiting Fluminense’s selections.

For Bahia, both center-back David Duarte and left-back Ze Guilherme received their third yellow cards in the draw against Corinthians and will be suspended for this fixture.

In the absence of Duarte, head coach Ceni has various options to choose from, including Marcus Victor, Kanu, and the recently signed Marco Moreno, who is still regaining his match fitness.

Luciano Juba, who made his return from injury against Corinthians, is the prime candidate to take Ze Guilherme’s place at left-back, while goalkeeper Leo and defensive midfielder Caio Alexandre remain unavailable due to injuries.

Fluminense probable starting XI:

Fabius; Guga, Silva, Freytes, Rene; Hercules, Martinelli; Canobbio, Acosta, Serna; hulk

Bahia probable starting XI:

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

Fluminense is anticipated to establish dominance in the match by achieving an early goal before managing the contest. Their main aim will be to secure all three points while ensuring key players remain fresh for a busy schedule ahead.

We expect Fluminense to take advantage of defensive openings against Bahia before concentrating on maintaining their lead, rather than aggressively seeking to expand the margin.