Needing six more points to reach the goal set by the mathematicians as desirable to avoid the risk of relegation, Bahia faces the Black Bridge this Sunday, November 5, in confrontation for the thirty-second round of the Brazilian Championship version 2017. The meeting will be held at the Fonte Nova Arena in Salvador, starting at 6:00 p.m. (Brasília time, 5:00 p.m. local time).
Bahia’s recent performance
In a 1-1 draw with Fluminense in Maracanã, in the thirty-first round, the Bahian tricolor reached 39 points (ten wins, nine draws and 12 losses) approaching the score that is considered necessary to guarantee the permanence in the Series THE.
Although 45 points do not grant the certainty of permanence, since the dispute of the Brazilian Championship happened to be disputed by points in 2003, in only one edition was not enough to reach this goal.
In pursuit of this goal, the duel with Ponte Preta gains even greater importance. After all, he is a direct opponent in this fight. Thus, a victory not only allowed the Bahians to come close to securing their place in Serie A in 2018, but at least in theory would ‘eliminate’ an opponent in that battle. It will not be the only ‘six-point game’ in this final stretch of tournament. Bahia will still have Avai ahead of them.
Coach Paulo César Carpegianni, the team’s fourth captain of the season, was called to repeat what he achieved last year when he avoided Coritiba’s relegation and has taken note of the message. Under his direction, the team scored in four out of five matches (two wins and two draws).
When home factor is considered, the optimism of the fans increases even more. Bahia is the seventh best entrant of Brasileirão. He has accumulated 27 (eight wins, three draws and four losses) of his points in this situation. For the departure of this Sunday, the driver Édson, injured, follows from outside. Mendonza, after complying with suspension, is able to return.
The current form of Ponte Preta
The Macaca interrupted on Sunday, October 29, a series of four rounds without a win (three losses and a draw). In Campinas, they beat Corinthians, leader, by 1 to 0. It reached 35 points (nine wins, eight draws and 14 losses). It rose to the seventeenth position, the first in the relegation zone.
If Bahia’s homemade performance impresses, the same can be said of the Ponte’s campaign as a visitor. Only in that case negatively. With only eight points (one win, five draws and nine defeats) added to the 45 played in this situation, the team is the worst in comparison with the other 19 teams that compete for the Brasileirão.
The situation is further complicated by the large number of embezzles that coach Eduardo Baptista will have to manage. The most important of them is the veteran striker Emerson Sheik, who can not act for having received the third yellow card in the previous game. Also from the outside for the same reason are Danilo and Naldson. The casualty list is completed by Wendel, injured.
Not everything is bad news for Ponte Preta. Judged by the expulsion in the match of October 7 against Cruzeiro, Elton was suspended for only one match. Since he has already served the punishment, he will be able to work in Bahia. After getting a game out for the accumulation of yellow cards, Jadson is cleared to act. There remains doubt about the striker Léo Gamalho. In the process of recovery from injury, you must undergo a new medical evaluation to know if you will be able to play.
History of the bouts between Bahia and Ponte Preta
The Bahia takes the best in the history of duels with the Ponte Preta in Brasileirão. He has won six of 13 games, including a 3-0 draw in the first round of the current season. The draws were four and the victories of the Macaca only three, the most recent of them in 2003.
blockquote>Tip for Bahia – Ponte Preta :
– Bahia win @ 1.75
