Bahia - Fortaleza predictions and free betting tips [14/06/2024]

On Friday, 14th June, as part of the 8th round of the Brazilian Serie A, Bahia will host Fortaleza. The visitors are yet to suffer a defeat in this season's championship, while the hosts can catapult to the top of the table with a win.

Stadium

The match will take place at Fonte Nova Arena in Salvador.

Bahia

Having finished 16th in the league table last season, Bahia narrowly escaped relegation. This campaign, Jean Lucas's men are performing admirably: with four wins in seven opening rounds, the hosts sit third in the standings with 14 points. They trail leaders Botafogo by just two points (with a game in hand), so a victory over Fortaleza could put them on course to challenge Flamengo for the lead.

Following three consecutive wins against Gremio (1-0), Botafogo (2-1), and Bragantino (1-0), the red-and-blue drew with Atletico Mineiro (1-1) in early June. After a goalless first half, Hulk put the striped team ahead in the 62nd minute, but Ademir soon restored parity. The hosts will be confident on Friday night, having won their last three home league matches at Fonte Nova Arena. 

Fortaleza

Fortaleza, who finished in the lower half of the table last year, are regaining their former stance this season. Based in the state of Ceará, the team occupies 11th place in the Brazilian Serie A, having remained unbeaten so far (two wins and four draws). In the previous round, Juan Pablo Vojvoda's men renewed their winning streak by defeating Atletico Paranaense 1-0, with Benjamin Kuscevic scoring the only goal, ending a run of four consecutive draws. In the Copa Sudamericana, Fortaleza outperformed Boca Juniors, finishing first in Group D and directly advancing to the Round of 16.

However, it’s noteworthy that the visitors struggle away from home, managing just one win in their last six away matches across all competitions. Fans will be pleased to know that the tricolours have scored in four of their last six matches and have conceded no more than one goal in their previous five encounters. 

Head-to-Head

The teams last faced each other last autumn, with Bahia securing a 2-0 victory. However, Fortaleza had been unbeaten in the four previous head-to-head encounters.

Match Prediction: Bahia vs. Fortaleza

Despite Fortaleza's unbeaten run in this season's Serie A, that streak might end tonight. The hosts have an impeccable home record with three wins out of three, buoyed by the support of their fans. Furthermore, a win would put Bahia at the top of the table, and they won't want to squander such an opportunity. My prediction is a victory for Bahia.

Total Prediction

Fortaleza has netted just six goals in the current championship, while the hosts concede an average of one goal per game. Bet on the individual total under (ITU) for the visitors under 1.

Corner Prediction

Motivated by the chance to claim first place and backed by home fans, Bahia is likely to dominate. Therefore, it makes sense to bet on a victory for the hosts in terms of corners.

Yellow Card Prediction

This season, the hosts average 2.9 yellow cards per game, while the visitors rack up 3.3. Bet on a total over (TO) for yellow cards exceeding 4.5.

Score Prediction

I'm betting on a precise score of 1-0 in favour of Bahia.