Juventude vs Bahia Prediction: It's a crucial game for the home team

After spending the whole season in a comfortable position in the table, Juventude fell into the relegation zone with just a few games left to play in the Brasileirão. The Gaúchos will have tricky opponents to face in the final rounds and have to prove they deserve to stay in the Série A. Bahia is seventh, but Juventude must win regardless.

The Caxias do Sul side showed signs of anxiety and lost 3-0 at home to Fortaleza. The Cearenses scored two goals in a row close to half-time, inevitably affecting Juventude's confidence. Coach Fábio Matias' debut in charge of the Whites and Greens was a nightmare, and the fans are deeply concerned. The departure of coach Roger Machado to Internacional was very damaging to the club. Jair Ventura, his replacement, tried his best, but the Gaúchos never reached the same level again. This game against Bahia is decisive for Juventude.

The Steel Squadron is another team that started the campaign well and has been going downhill for quite some time. Bahia is in seventh place and could qualify for the Copa Libertadores, but the club's fans expected more from their team, which was in the leading places in the table earlier in the season. Rogério Ceni is under massive pressure, aggravated by the 3-0 home defeat against São Paulo, the coach's former club. More places may open up for Brazilian clubs in the next edition of the Copa Libertadores, but the Baianos must improve their performances in the six remaining games or risk failing their goal.

Both teams are playing poorly and haven't won for several rounds. Juventude has recently changed its coach, and on the other hand, Rogério Ceni is under massive pressure from the Bahia fans. It's hard to predict what will happen in a match involving two teams with little confidence. I'm leaning toward a draw, as it's hard to pick a winner between two struggling sides.