Preview: Fortaleza vs. Bahia - prediction, team news, lineups

With their top-flight status on the line, Bahia visit the Castelao on Friday to square up against Fortaleza.

Meanwhile, the home side are looking to round off their league campaign in style with a third straight home victory.

Match preview

Off the back of consecutive defeats, Bahia returned to winning ways with a 2-0 victory over Fluminense at the Arena Fonte Nova on Sunday.

A first-half brace from Gilberto in the space of seven minutes fired Guto Ferreira's men to all three points in Salvador.

Tricolor de aco are 16th on the log as things stand, above the drop zone only on goal difference heading into the final round of matches.

Awaiting them next is a crunch contest versus an opposing side who have won just one of the last five meetings between the teams.

Friday's visitors head into the game having lost each of their last three away games by a combined score of 6-1 and will need to up the ante in what is unarguably their biggest game of the season.

Fortaleza were defeated for the sixth consecutive away match running following a 1-0 loss to Cuiaba at the Arena Pantanal on Tuesday.

The contest was decided in the 10th minute when Elton kept his cool from 12 yards to leave Juan Pablo Vojvoda's men empty-handed.

That defeat leaves Clube da Garotada fifth on the standings, two points behind Corinthians in fourth and two points clear of nearest challengers Bragantino.

One year on from their frenetic relegation scrap and Friday's hosts are looking the part once again having already bettered last season points tally by 14.

Team News

Hugo Rodallega grabbed four goals in the last edition of this fixture and will be looking to come up trumps for the hosts once again.

Eugenio Isnaldo and Matheus Teixeira are both ruled out of Friday's game through ankle and muscle injuries respectively.

Valentin Depietri was handed a rare start in Fortaleza's last outing, but the 21-year-old is expected to drop back to the bench for this one.

Top scorer Robson also had to make do with a cameo appearance in the aforementioned game, but he should get the nod to feature right from the off this time.

Fortaleza possible starting lineup:
Boeck; Titi, Concecao, Jackson; Bruno, Ronaldo, Jussa Pikachu; Lima, Robson, Osvaldo

Bahia possible starting lineup:
Fernandes; Santos, Otavio, Conti, Nino; De Lucca, Gomez, Rodriguinho; Nascimento, Rodallega, Gilberto

We say: Fortaleza 1-1 Bahia

The visitors have more to play for against their hosts who boast a significantly better squad on paper. We fancy a share of the spoils with the points split at the end of the 90 minutes.

Previews by email