Bahiavs.Cuiaba

The home side have won seven from seven, and they aim for an eighth straight success in front of their supporters against a relegation-threatened side with a propensity to play out stalemates under Petit.

Match preview

While four clubs have stayed undefeated at home this term, Bahia and Cruzeiro have an unblemished sequence — seven and six wins respectively.

Bahia have conceded a joint-low three goals in front of their fans while notching 13 at the other end to aid their closeness to the top of the table, with a point separating Rogerio Ceni's men from Flamengo after the latter's draw against Cuiaba.

Success for Ceni's side and dropped points for the league-leading side could see Beae end the gameweek atop the standings, even if that outcome requires Botafogo and Palmeiras also failing to end round 17 with maximum points.

Their ambition to claim a first title since 1988 is undermined by their dispiriting road results, underlined by two victories in nine on their travels.

A possibly significant road win at Athletico Paranaense in mid-week ended a five-match run without winning away from home, and they seek to consolidate by clinching an eighth consecutive success in front of their supporters.

Tricolor will be wary of the threat Cuiaba pose to that run continuing, as the away side recently took two points off league-leading Flamengo who entered that match on the back of four straight victories.

Petit's men are unmistakably hard to beat, underlined by losing just one of their last seven matches — a 2-1 home loss to Botafogo — but have struggled to find wins despite showing improved competence since the former Portugal international took charge.

The upshot of their failure to secure maximum points consistently leaves them close to sliding into the bottom four if they do not find the means to turn draws into victories.

However, facing Bahia a week removed from holding the Brasileiro leaders to a draw should motivate the away side to notch another positive result.

The travelling fans have reason to be optimistic, having seen their team avoid losing in three straight road games, playing out two 1-1 draws at Corinthians and Flamengo after their June 20 victory over Sao Paulo, and they hope to extend that to four to frustrate the title-chasing home side.

Bahia Brasileiro form:

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Cuiaba Brasileiro form:

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Team News

Santiago Arias is with the Colombia squad set to play Argentina this weekend in the Copa America final.

Everaldo (six), Biel and Thaciano (both on four goals) hope to add to their tallies against the struggling side.

Cuiaba have a near-clean bill of health, with Deyverson the only injury doubt for Petit's men, who also welcome back Filipe Augusto, Andre Luis and Railan to the team after one-match bans for accumulation of yellows.

Only Isidro Pitta (four) has netted more than Clayson (three) for the away side, who have struggled for goals this term — 16 in 15 matches.

Bahia possible starting lineup:

Felipe; Gilberto, Xavier, Kanu, Juba; De Pena, Rezende, Alexandre; Cauly; Biel, Everaldo

Cuiaba possible starting lineup:

Walter; Railan, Marllon, Empereur, Ramon; Cafu, Sobral, Mineiro, Denilson, Clayson; Pitta

We say: Bahia 1-0 Cuiaba

Petit's men are expected to make the match tedious to play in, keen to secure a potentially much-needed point.

While this should work to an extent, Bahia's ability to score at one end and prevent them at the other should be enough for a slender margin of victory.

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