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

Two sides in the bottom half of the Brasileiro Serie A table go head to head on Saturday when Santos welcome Bahia to the Estadio Urbano Caldeira.

The hosts have failed to taste victory in each of their last six outings in all competitions, while the visitors ended their run of three straight defeats last time out.

Match preview

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Santos' horrid run of games continued last time out when they fell to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Cuiaba at the Arena Pantanal.

Despite being on the back foot for most of the game, Jonathan Cafu and Elton scored either side of Gabriel Pirani's equaliser to hand the Alvinegro their fifth win of the season.

Prior to that, Fabio Carille's men fell to a 1-0 first-leg loss against Athletico Paranaense in the Copa do Brasil quarter-finals on August 25 before suffering a humbling 4-0 defeat at the hands of Flamengo one week later.

This poor run has been down to their struggles at the attacking end of the pitch, where they have scored six goals in their last nine games.

While they will be looking to return to winning ways, they face a Bahia side who have won each of the most recent two meetings between the sides, including a 2-0 victory in their season's curtain-raiser at the Arena Fonte Nova.

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Saturday's visitors ended their four-game winless run last Sunday when they claimed a thrilling 4-2 victory over Fortaleza on home turf.

A hat-trick from Hugo Rodallega put Diego Dabove's side in a commanding three-goal lead before Yago Pikachu and Matheus Vargas scored to reduce the deficit, but Rodallega made sure of the result when he grabbed his fourth goal of the game in the 75th minute to cap off a sensational individual performance.

The Salvador-based side had failed to pick up a single point in the last three games leading to the win, losing to Atletico Goianiense, Gremio and Fluminense, while conceding six goals and scoring one.

With 21 points from 19 games, Bahia are currently 16th in the Serie A standings, three points above the relegation places and one below Saturday's hosts.

Team News

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The hosts will be without several key players, including the Brazilian midfield duo of Jobson and Sandry, who have both been sidelined with long-term injuries.

Promising youngster Kaiky Melo is out of contention for the game after sustaining an injury in the 1-1 draw against Fortaleza one month ago, while John (meniscus), Jean Mota (ankle), Kevin Malthus (ligament) and Marinho (knee) are also on the club's injury table.

Meanwhile, Bahia remain without the services of Brazilian midfielder Thonny Anderson, who picked up an injury in July's game against Atletico Mineiro.

Indio Ramirez continues his long journey from injury, while 33-year-old goalkeeper Danilo Fernandes misses out through an injury he sustained against Sport Recife five weeks ago.

Veteran forward Hugo Rodallega put on a headline-grabbing performance last time out when he scored all four goals against Fortaleza and we expect the former Fulham man to lead the attack on Saturday.

Santos possible starting lineup:
Paulo; Jonatan, W Leonardo, Robson, Para; Mota, Camacho, Sanchez; Guilherme, M Leonardo, Pirani

Bahia possible starting lineup:
Teixeira; Paraiba, Conti, Otavio, Capixaba; Araujo, Danielzinho; Rossi, Rodriguinho, Mugni; Rodallega

We say: Santos 2-1 Bahia

Both sides currently find themselves separated by one point and two places just outside the relegation zone after a series of unconvincing performances.

Bahia, who have struggled to get going away from home, are without a win in their last six away games in all competitions and we predict Santos will make use of their home advantage and claim a morale-boosting win.