Bahia returns to the field in the state league on Wednesday night, when it hosts the Itabuna team in Salvador.
Bahia
After a start where Bahia ended up oscillating a lot, the team is in clear evolution, connecting successive victories and now leads the championship.
The Bahian championship has a total of 10 teams, the top 4 placed advance to the semi-finals and the last 2 in the table fall to the second division.
Bahia comes from 3 consecutive victories and now with 10 points, leads the championship, having the same score as Barcelona and Jequié, as well as an advantage over their rival, Vitória.
Therefore, even though they are coming at a good time, the team cannot take their foot off the accelerator.
This is because at the beginning of the championship, Bahia went with an alternative team in the first 2 rounds, due to its main squad being in England doing pre-season.
Bahia was acquired by Grupo City and as one of the positive points of this new era of the club, this period of preparation in England.
Group B was heavily criticized by the fans, players entered with low confidence, but now with the main team, Bahia has shown that it is the big favorite for the state championship title.
During this period, they beat Jacobina 5-0, at home, in their first team debut. Then they beat Bahia de Feira, away from home, 2-0, and in the last match, returning to play as home team, they beat Barcelona.
One of the great highlights of this start of the championship is its great acquisition for this season, midfielder Everton Ribeiro.
In fact, the player was responsible for opening the scoring against Barcelona, at the beginning of the second half, and Rafael Ratão, in the final stretch of the game, closed the score.
It is an absolutely powerful team, high ability to maintain ball possession, high lines and should probably push Itabuna’s defensive lines against their field.
Itabuna
Itabuna, in turn, is at risk of relegation, although today it is outside the zone.
The team is in eighth place with 6 points, but is only one ahead of Bahia de Feira, 9th in the table, and 2 ahead of Atlético de Alagoinhas.
Their campaign has only one win in 5 games, as well as one defeat and 3 draws, with 7 goals scored and 6 conceded.
If we look at the glass as half full, the team has not lost in 4 games, having 3 draws and one victory in the period.
In the last matches, the team beat Jacuipense 3-1 at home, and in the last game away from home, they tied 1-1 against Juazeirense.
But we cannot expect a purposeful team against Bahia, much less with high lines. But yes, a defensive game and exploring some counterattacks.
Even if they play a very strong defensive game, the tendency is for Bahia to completely control the actions of the match and even win with some ease.
Conclusion:
Bahia really is the great team in state football and I believe they can win this game. Therefore, the handicap line will be my betting choice.