Bahia vs Atlético-MG Prediction: The Baianos are far from their best

Bahia and Atlético Mineiro will meet in Salvador for an exciting Brasileirão match. Both teams have quality players capable of putting on a good show. Bahia is in 7th place but hasn't won in four games, two of them against Flamengo in the Copa do Brasil. Atlético, on the other hand, is in 10th place but is encouraged by recent performances.

The Steel Squadron had an excellent first half of the championship, having spent several weeks in the top four places in the table. Rogério Ceni's men were unbeaten in their stadium for a long time, but after their first defeat at the Arena Fonte Nova, Bahia lost confidence. In the last round, the Baianos lost 2-1 away to RB Bragantino, conceding a goal in the 95th minute. In the middle of the week, Bahia suffered a 1-0 defeat at the Maracanã in the second leg of the Copa do Brasil quarter-finals after losing by the same score in the first leg at home. The Tricolor needs to get back to winning ways as soon as possible because it's still possible to finish the league in the G6, which would grant the qualification for the Copa Libertadores.

The Rooster drew 0-0 at home to São Paulo and qualified for the semi-finals of the Copa do Brasil. In the first leg, the Miners had won 1-0 at the Morumbi, so the draw was enough to move on in the competition. In the last round of the Brasileirão, before the international break, Atlético Mineiro had won 3-2 away to Grêmio after an unbelievable comeback with goals in the 95th and 96th minutes. In midweek, the Belo Horizonte side will face Fluminense in the quarter-finals of the Copa Libertadores, so Gabriel Milito will probably give some players a rest against Bahia.

Bahia isn't in great form but has quality players, and it will only be a matter of time before the team gets back to winning ways. Atlético Mineiro isn't enjoying a good league but is through to the Copa do Brasil semi-finals and the Copa Libertadores quarter-finals. The South American competition will resume midweek, so the Miners may not be at full strength against Bahia. I'm therefore betting on a Double Chance in favor of Bahia, with a maximum of three goals scored in the match.