Find out more about the duel between Bahia and Sport in the 1st round of the Group Stage of the Copa do Nordeste on February 4th, Sunday, at 4pm, at Arena Fonte Nova, in Salvador, Bahia.
Bahia
Bahia, with a solid history in the Copa do Nordeste, boasts a history that inspires respect. Participating in the tournament over the years, the club played a total of 200 games, achieving 103 wins (52%), 52 draws (26%) and suffering 45 defeats (22%).
The performance at home is particularly notable, with 65 wins in 103 matches (63%), highlighting Bahia’s strength when playing in front of their vibrant fans.
The goal numbers also leave nothing to be desired, with a total of 352 goals scored in the competition, resulting in an average of 1.76 goals per game, while conceding 213 goals, with an average of 1.07 goals per game.
In the most recent scenario, Bahia stood out in the Campeonato Baiano, playing 5 games and obtaining 3 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat, boasting an impressive goal difference of 12-4.
In the last three clashes, the club recorded notable results, with convincing 2-0 victories over Barcelona-BA and Bahia de Feira, as well as a 5-0 win over Jacobina.
Under the guidance of experienced coach Rogério Ceni, Bahia plans to maintain its tactical variations and rely on key players, such as Éverton Ribeiro, whose experience and skill are fundamental in midfield. On the front line, Everaldo and Biel appear as constant threats to the opponent. The expected formation is a solid 4-3-1-2.
Sport
On the other hand, Sport also has a respectable track record in the Copa do Nordeste, having played 165 games, winning 79 times (48%), drawing 46 times (28%) and losing on 40 occasions (24%).
Away from home, the club recorded 28 wins in 83 matches (34%). With 268 goals scored in the competition, the team maintains an average of 1.62 goals per game, while it only conceded 158 goals, presenting an average of 0.96 goals per game.
In the Pernambucano Championship, Sport had a remarkable performance, playing 6 matches, of which they won 5 and suffered only 1 defeat, accumulating a goal difference of 11-5.
In their three most recent games, Sport achieved convincing 3-0 victories against Flamengo de Arcoverde, 2-0 against Afogados da Ingazeira and a tighter 1-0 victory against Maguary.
Coach Mariano Soso, in charge of Sport, plans to count on prominent players, such as Lucas Lima and Gustavo Coutinho, crucial pieces in midfield and attack, respectively. The projected formation is a solid 4-1-4-1.
In the last matches between Bahia and Sport, there were different results. Sport won 6-0 in the last meeting, while previously they won 1-0. However, Bahia also won 1-0 in a previous clash.
Conclusion:
In this scenario, considering the defensive vulnerabilities observed in both teams on some occasions and their current offensive capabilities, it is possible to predict that both teams have significant chances of finding the net during the match, which could be an interesting option to bet on.