Bahia vs Fluminense Prediction: Home is where the heart is in Brazil

Bahia and Fluminense are two former winners of the Brazilian Serie A title, and both will be hoping to improve upon last season’s respective top-seven finishes. Fluminense, champions last in 2012, closed out last season in fifth to qualify for the Copa Libertadores group stage, and that was two places and four points above Bahia.

Both teams made winning starts to the new league season, with Bahia edging to a 2-1 success away at Corinthians and Fluminense seeing off Gremio at home by the same scoreline. That makes for an intriguing showdown at the Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador on Thursday (22:00 GMT), and Fluminense have had the better of the argument recently, winning their final two rivalries of last season 2-0. Read on for my Bahia vs Fluminense predictions, alongside team news and match odds.

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New customers only. Deposit via Debit Card & place first bet £10+ (1/1+) on Sports in 7 days. £30 Sports & £20 Acca Free Bets within 10 hrs of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility, payment excl. & T&Cs Apply.

Team News

Bahia are unable to call upon Uruguayan forward Michel Araujo following last week’s red card against Corinthians, while Jean Lucas is an injury doubt. Meanwhile, Mateo Sanabria and Ruan Pablo are ruled out.

Football Odds

For Fluminense, German Cano, Hercules and Yeferson Soteldo are all yet to feature this season.

Bahia vs Fluminense Odds

Bahia, having the benefit of home advantage, are 23/20 for victory, with Fluminense 23/10 to account for these rivals for a third straight time. The draw is available at 11/5.

Ten of the last 13 head-to-heads have featured two or fewer goals, and under 2.5 can be backed at 8/11. Both teams to score, a bet which has obliged in three of Bahia’s last four matches, is a 4/5 chance.

Match Result - Bahia @ 23/20

Fixtures in Serie A tend to be tight affairs, dominated by defences, and as a result, home advantage can prove extremely beneficial.

Bahia won 14 of their 19 home league games last season, suffering just two defeats, and they have prevailed four of the last five times in which they have entertained Fluminense.

Today's Football Fixtures

Bahia have won 11 of their last 12 fixtures on their own patch, and they can maintain their perfect start to the new campaign with victory.

Like many in Brazil, Fluminense struggled on their travels last season, winning only four of their 19 away games, and they have endured defeat five times in their last 10 road outings.

Anytime Goalscorer - Luciano Juba (BAH) @ 5/1

Bahia full-back Luciano Juba is a player who likes to get forward, and he impressed in the league last season, scoring six goals and grabbing four assists in 35 appearances.

Juba is already off the mark for the new campaign, having scored in a 5-1 win over Barcelona Esporte Clube in Baiano in January, and he was on target in both meetings at home to Fluminense last season.