Everything you need to know about the match between Itabuna and Jacuipense in the 4th round of the Campeonato Baiano on January 29th, Monday, at 7:15 pm, at Estádio Mário Pessoa, in Ilhéus.
Itabuna
The Itabuna team, currently positioned in 9th place in the table, has faced difficulties in finding the necessary consistency to reach higher heights in the competition.
With a recent record that includes 2 draws and 1 defeat, there is a clear need to strengthen both their offensive and defensive sectors. The statistical numbers, with 3 goals scored and 4 conceded, indicate a lack in both aspects of the game, signaling the urgency of strategic adjustments.
In the last matches, Itabuna drew against Bahia de Feira (1×1) and Jacobina (1×1), in addition to suffering a defeat against Alagoinhas (1×2).
Analyzing these matches, it is clear that Itabuna has a tendency to open the scoreboard, as happened against Atlético de Alagoinhas, when Silvano scored the first goal, however, the team faced difficulties in maintaining this advantage, resulting in a 2×1 defeat.
Thus, the same pattern was repeated in the duel against Jacobina, with Romário opening the scoring, but conceding the draw in the final minutes. In the third meeting with Bahia de Feira, Itabuna demonstrated resilience by recovering from a goal conceded in the first few seconds and leveling the score with a goal from Guilherme Ivo.
It is undeniable that coach Mathaus Sodré, with his 4-3-3, continues to count on players who have stood out individually. Silvano, Romário and Guilherme Ivo have demonstrated notable offensive skills, being influential players in Itabuna’s attack.
Jacuipense
On the other hand, Jacuipense, current runner-up in the Campeonato Baiano, enters the 2024 season with high expectations. In recent years, the team has been notable for its performances in the championship finals, but had a challenging start to this edition, with two initial defeats.
However, the team achieved its first victory in the previous round, demonstrating its determination to reaffirm its position as a dominant force in football in the interior of Bahia.
Currently occupying 7th place in the table, Jacuipense scored 4 goals and conceded 5. In their away matches, the team achieved a victory against Alagoinhas (3×2), but suffered defeats against Juazeirense (2×1) and Vitória (1×0).
Coach Jonilson Veloso Santos, adopting a 4-1-4-1 formation, can count on experienced players such as Kanu, Jeam, Adriano Michael Jackson, Fábio Bahia, as well as the recently signed Van, to lead the team in search of better results.
In the history of direct confrontations between Itabuna and Jacuipense, the last meeting ended in a draw (1-1), demonstrating the equality of strength between the teams.
This way, we can expect a highly competitive match. Itabuna, playing at home, may have a psychological advantage, but their recent performance does not guarantee an easy victory. On the other hand, Jacuipense-BA, even playing away, demonstrated their ability to score goals and could surprise.
Conclusion:
In this context, both defenses seem susceptible, which suggests the possibility of a game with several nets swinging. So, considering recent performances, a high-scoring draw again appears to be a possible outcome here.