Fortaleza vs Bahia Prediction: Duel between the strongest teams of the Nordeste

Despite being from different states, Fortaleza and Bahia belong to the same region of Brazil. The two clubs are the Nordeste's pride, with Fortaleza in third place and Bahia in sixth, meaning that these two teams are fighting to qualify for the Copa Libertadores. The growth of Fortaleza and Bahia in recent years demonstrates that the Northeast region has the potential to establish itself in Brazilian football.

The Lion suffered an unexpected 2-0 home defeat against Corinthians in the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana quarter-finals. Fortaleza hadn't lost at the Arena Castelão in 21 games since the Copa do Nordeste match against Vitória in March. The result against the Timão isn't very encouraging for the second leg, and it will be difficult for the Cearenses to repeat their appearance in the final of the South American competition, which they reached last year. Vojvoda's men haven't won in four games and are going through a low confidence period after losing first place to Botafogo. Fortaleza must react and win as soon as possible to get back on track.

After four games without a victory, including two against Flamengo in the Copa do Brasil, Bahia cruised to a 3-0 win over Atlético Mineiro. The Steel Squadron needed a win by a wide margin after only scoring one goal in the previous four matches. The score was 0-0 at half-time, but everything changed in the second half. Everaldo, Éverton Ribeiro, and Luciano Rodríguez scored the goals for the Baianos, and the team returned to the G6 of the Brasileirão. With 12 rounds left to play, Bahia still dreams of qualifying for the Copa Libertadores, which would be excellent for the Salvador club. The upcoming clash with Fortaleza is tough, but the home team isn't in a good moment, so anything is possible.

Fortaleza is in third place and the only team unbeaten at home in the Brasileirão, so it has to be considered the favorite. However, the Cearenses lost in their stadium midweek to Corinthians in the Copa Sudamericana, which might have affected their confidence. The fact that Bahia is sixth suggests trouble for the Lion, so Fortaleza has to perform well to win. I'm going for a Double Chance in favor of the home side, with a maximum of three goals scored, to prevent the possibility of a draw.