Preview: Bahia vs. Chapecoense - prediction, team news, lineups

Bahia host bottom-placed Chapecoense on Monday in the race to avoid relegation from the Brasileiro, with the home side currently sitting just outside the bottom four in 16th.

Chapecoense are rooted to the foot of the table, having only won once this season, and their fate is looking likely to end in relegation as they are 15 points behind Bahia.

Match preview

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Guto Ferreira's side are aiming to extend their current unbeaten run to four games on Monday, but they will need to be more prolific in front of goal, after their last two results ended in goalless draws.

Last time out, Bahia travelled to face America MG, and after the first meeting between those two sides produced a seven-goal thriller earlier in the campaign, Sunday's encounter did not live up to that excitement.

Despite drawing a blank in front of goal in their last two games at the other end of the pitch, goalkeeper Danilo Fernandes has kept three clean sheets in his last four appearances, which is a stat to build on considering that Bahia have the second-worst defensive record in the Brasileiro.

To make that four consecutive clean sheets for Ferreira's side, Fernandes will have to stop Chapecoense scoring, which the visitors have done more so away from home than on their own patch.

Chapecoense's only win of this campaign so far came towards the beginning of September, when they travelled to Copa Libertadores-chasing Red Bull Bragantino, and since then Pintado's team have managed to pick up three points from three different teams inside the top 12.

The home side almost made that four points from four top-12 teams last time out when they welcomed Fortaleza to the Arena Conda, but Yago Pikachu converted a penalty three minutes into stoppage time to send Chapecoense to a 2-1 defeat.

Pintado's side are against all the odds to survive in Brasileiro this season, but with 11 games still to play, they will want to end this campaign as strongly as they can to have a little bit more confidence heading into next year.

The visitors have conceded 46 goals in their 27 league games to date, so Monday's fixture brings together the two worst defensive records in the division, suggesting that there may be many opportunities in the final third for either team.

Bahia earned all three points in July when these two teams last met, with Gilberto and Rodriguinho sealing a 2-0 win for the away side in Santa Catarina.

Team News

Bahia midfielder Lucas Mugni is suspended for Monday's affair, so Eugenio Isnaldo could come into the starting 11, playing in a midfield unit alongside Danielzinho and Patrick.

Winger Rossi picked up a thigh injury at the beginning of last month, and he will continue to be sidelined until later in October, giving more opportunity for Juninho Capixaba and Rai Nascimento to operate the wide areas for the home team.

Ferreira has opted for the same back four in the last two games, and that is expected to remain on Monday, meaning that goalkeeper Fernandes will be protected by Matheus Bahia, Luiz Otavio, German Conti and Nino Paraiba.

Chapecoense have their own suspension issues as winger Geuvanio will be unavailable for selection on Monday, but to perhaps more concern for Pintado is their lengthy injury list.

A total of 11 players are currently recovering from injury, most notably striker Pedro Perotti, who has been involved the most this season out of his fellow teammates in the physio room.

Pintado only made two changes to his starting lineup last time out, and Anderson Leite is expected to return to the starting side after Denner had come in to replace the midfielder against Fortaleza.

Bahia possible starting lineup:
Fernandes; Bahia, Otavio, Conti, Paraiba; Patrick; Capixaba, Isnaldo, Danielzinho, Nascimento; Gilberto

Chapecoense possible starting lineup:
Keiller; Mancha, Jordan, Joilson, Ignacio, Matheus Ribeiro; Lima, Moises Ribeiro, Leite; Rodriguinho, Mike

We say: Bahia 1-1 Chapecoense

Despite Chapecoense picking up slightly fewer points than Bahia in their last six games, the bottom-placed side have tested some of the top teams in the Brasileiro, which they can take confidence from.

Bahia are expected to be more nervous for this encounter as they arguably have more to lose, with Chapecoense already likely to be relegated, which suggests that the visitors could earn a point from Monday by taking advantage of any nerves from their hosts.