Gremio and Bahia, both experiencing contrasting starts to the Brasileiro Serie A season, will clash on Sunday afternoon at the Arena do Gremio.
The hosts are 17th in the standings with only nine points from nine games, while the visitors are sixth in the table with 15 points from nine league fixtures.
Match preview
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Gremio enjoyed an initial impressive return to the Brasileiro Serie A in 2023, securing a second-placed finish, but the Immortal Tricolor have fallen down the standings since.
Gremio dropped to a 14th-placed finish with 45 points in 2024, 23 fewer points than the year prior, while a lacklustre start to this season has Mano Menezes‘s side 17th in the table.
The hosts have just nine points from their opening nine league fixtures, with two wins, three draws and four defeats, leaving them behind 16th-placed Vitoria in safety on goal difference.
Menezes’s side are also winless in their last five matches heading into Sunday’s clash, including three consecutive home fixtures, and Gremio will be desperate to break that streak with a victory.
However, they will face a formidable test against Bahia, with the visitors currently sixth in the standings with 15 points from nine games, after four wins, three draws and two defeats.
The visitors were promoted alongside Gremio in 2022 but have had a contrasting time back in the top flight, initially struggling with a 16th-placed finish before climbing to eighth last term – qualifying for the Copa Libertadores in the process.
Rogerio Ceni, in charge since September 2023, will be aiming for another Libertadores qualification this season, meaning every point will be crucial even at this early stage of the campaign.
Bahia recently ended a three-game losing run with back-to-back wins, leaving them in strong form coming into the clash, while they will also be confident given their recent record against Gremio.
Ceni’s men have emerged victorious in each of the last two meetings between these two sides, with a 3-0 aggregate scoreline, including a 2-0 win at Gremio’s home stadium last term.
Team News
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The hosts will be without a number of players for this clash due to injury issues, including Edenilson, Gustavo Martins, Igor Serrote, Joao Lucas, Miguel Monsalve and Rodrigo Ely.
Jemerson is also unavailable for selection for Gremio due to a suspension, meaning Wagner Leanardo could partner Walter Kannemann in central defence.
In attack, Matias Arezo was red carded in their recent cup match, but the forward could start in the absence of Monsalve, with Martin Braithwaite, Cristian Olivera and Francis Amuzu also in the forward line.
Bahia are similarly without several players due to injury issues, including Ademir Santos, Erick, Rezende, Santiago Arias and Kanu, while Jean Lucas is suspended.
Following a 4-0 victory against Paysandu SC last time out, Ceni could decide to name a similar starting team here, featuring Willian Jose in attack after the striker scored twice in that match.
Gremio possible starting lineup:
Volpi; Ronald, Leonardo, Kannemann, Marlon; Villasanti, Dodi; Olivera, Arezo, Amuzu; Braithwaite
Bahia possible starting lineup:
Felipe; Lippert, Xavier, Mingo, Borduchi; Nestor, Acevedo; Kayky, Rodriguez, Araujo; Jose
We say: Gremio 1-2 Bahia
Gremio have experienced a miserable start to the campaign, and with Bahia in a rich vein of form heading into the clash, we expect the visitors to secure the victory.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
