São Paulo vs Bahia – News and Probable Lineups

In the 14th round of the Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A, São Paulo will take on Bahia this Sunday at Estádio Cícero de Souza Marques, making it a notable encounter as both teams vie for a top-six position. This match has been relocated to Bragança Paulista due to concerts by The Weeknd at MorumBIS this weekend.

Both teams are set to engage in a crucial contest for a position in the G4, with Tricolor currently holding 23 points and Tricolor de Aço closely trailing with 21, indicating that the outcome could greatly influence the standings at the top.

Match overview

With a win rate of 58 percent, São Paulo continues to struggle with inconsistent performances in the Brasileirão since the hiring of Roger Machado. They have fallen from first place and now trail the current leaders, Palmeiras, by nine points.

In their previous match against Mirassol, forward Luciano was the key player, scoring the goal that clinched victory for Tricolor. This result placed them in fourth position with 23 points, marking their fourth win in the league over nine matches since the head coach took charge.

Heading into the São Paulo countryside provides an opportunity to showcase a strong performance in a positive setting, even as the home squad. Despite an impressive home record of 83.33 percent, Roger has faced considerable backlash and disdain — even prior to kickoff — from fans regarding his management of the club. This atmosphere adds pressure on the coach, who is looking for more consistent performances in away matches.

Last Tuesday, for example, his side was held to a goalless draw against Millonarios in Group C of the 2026 Sudamericana. Using a reserve lineup, the Brazilian team struggled to create clear opportunities, managing just nine shots with only one on target, but still maintained the lead in their group with seven points.

Sunday’s result is pivotal in solidifying their position within the Libertadores qualifying area, which is the primary aim of the board. As hosts in this competition, São Paulo has gathered 15 points from a possible 18, allowing just three goals at home.

Bahia’s determination helped them secure a draw in their last match against Santos at Arena Fonte Nova. After two converted penalties, Santos led by two goals at halftime.

After the break, Tricolor de Aço surged forward with an aggressive attacking approach. They controlled 68 percent of possession and recorded 11 shots just in the second half. Luciano Juba and William José found the net in the final 15 minutes to secure a point for their side.

This outcome brought them to 21 points overall, a reflection of a campaign that has seen six wins, three draws, and three losses. Their standout statistic this season is their performance away from home, having collected 12 points from a possible 18 in games outside Salvador.

Competing solely in the Brasileirão and the Copa do Brasil, Bahia is aiming to find their winning form again as they arrive in São Paulo, following three matches without a victory. This streak includes a 3-1 home loss to Remo in the first leg of the knockout competition’s fifth round.

Rogério Ceni will be up against the club where he is regarded as the ultimate legend, while trying to end a long wait that has been frustrating for Bahia fans. The team has not managed to defeat São Paulo away in the Brasileirão since 2013, recording five defeats and four draws in that period. Competing beyond MorumBIS provides a chance to achieve a win on São Paulo’s turf against the Soberano.

Team News

The key uncertainty for São Paulo revolves around the potential inclusion of Lucas Moura in the squad, as he continues to recover from a rib fracture. He resumed ball work during training this week, but it remains unconfirmed whether he will participate in the match.

Roger Machado is likely to remain focused on the Brasileirão and reinstate the regular starters who were given a rest for the draw in Colombia. Currently, Marcos Antônio (rectus femoris injury) and Pablo Maia (facial fracture) remain unavailable due to injury.

Alan Franco has completed his suspension from the previous Brasileirão match against Mirassol and will return to the squad, serving as one of the crucial elements of the defensive setup. Also, Cauly, on loan from Bahia, is eligible to play against his parent club as per his contract.

For Bahia, Rogério Ceni should have nearly his whole squad available for the trip to the São Paulo countryside. The only absentees are Rua Pablo, who is in physical transition, and Ronaldo, who is receiving treatment for a shoulder injury.

In the match against Santos, the manager opted to bench midfielder Everton Ribeiro, choosing Michel Araújo as a starter. A change appears probable, with the final decision expected to come during Saturday’s last training session.

Sao Paulo probable starting XI:

Raphael; Lucas Ramon, Alan Franco, Sabino, Wendell; Bobadilla, Danielzinho; Cauly, Luciano, Artur; Jonathan Calleri. Manager: Roger Machado.

Bahia probable starting XI:

Léo Vieira; Nicolas Acevedo, David Duarte, Ramos Mingo, Luciano Juba; Caio Alexandre, Jean Lucas, Éverton Ribeiro; Kike Olivera, Erick Pulga, Willian José. Manager: Rogério Ceni.

Sao Paulo has displayed remarkable defensive discipline at home under Roger Machado, achieving clean sheets in four of their six fixtures. Furthermore, they have prevented Bahia from scoring in five of the last eight home encounters between the two clubs.

This context suggests a potentially closely contested match where Sao Paulo’s efficiency and strength at home may be determining factors. Historically, Bahia has faced challenges as visitors in this matchup, and this trend could again favor the Tricolor on Sunday.