Preview: Sao Paulo vs. Bahia - prediction, team news, lineups

Sao Paulo will be looking to build on their first win of the 2021 Brasileiro campaign when they take on Bahia at Estadio do Morumbi on Saturday.

The hosts climbed out of the relegation zone with their 2-0 win against Internacional, while Bahia moved up to sixth in midweek with a 1-0 win over Juventude.

Match preview

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Hernan Crespo must have been wondering exactly when his first league win as Sao Paulo boss would arrive after drawing five and losing four of his first nine games in charge.

That run was ended on Wednesday with victory at Internacional thanks to goals from Emiliano Rigoni and Igor Gomes either side of half time.

Sao Paulo can now attempt to build momentum and claw their way up the division, though the immediate aim will be to put some distance between themselves and the relegation places.

Crespo's side have scored just seven goals in their 10 matches, which is among the lowest tallies in the division, and they take on a Bahia side on a good defensive run.

Dado Cavalcanti's charges have won their last two games without conceding, following up a 2-0 win against Chapecoense with a 1-0 win at home to Juventude.

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Those victories in quick succession lifted Bahia into the top six, which would be enough for a place in next season's Copa Libertadores if they can hold on.

It would also mark a superb turnaround for the Tricolor after finishing 14th last season, which in large is down to the goalscoring of the division's top scorer Gilberto.

The 32-year-old has seven goals this season - two more than any other player - and previously spent a season on Sao Paulo's books, so the hosts will know all about his quality.

Team News

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Sao Paulo will be without Bruno Alves on Saturday after the centre-back picked up another yellow card in the win against Internacional.

Miranda, Luciano and William da Silva are all carrying injuries, meanwhile, though in better news for the hosts they can welcome Gabriel Sara back from a recent layoff.

Rigoni has scored in Sao Paulo's last two matches and will surely lead the line here alongside Eder.

The visitors also have a player suspended for this contest, as Danielzinho was cautioned for a third time this season against Juventude.

Juan Pablo Ramirez is still injured for Bahia, but German Conti is closing in on a return to action.

Gilberto fired a blank against Juventude in the week, but he still has an impressive seven goals in 10 outings this term.

Sao Paulo possible starting lineup:
Volpi; Leo, Diego, Arboleda; Alves, Nestor, Santos, Wellington; Gomes; Rigoni, Eder

Bahia possible starting lineup:
Teixeira; Paraiba, Juninho, Otavio, Bahia; Thaciano, Lucca, Jonas; Rossi, Gilberto, Anderson

We say: Sao Paulo 1-1 Bahia

Bahia enter this game on the back of successive victories, while Sao Paulo picked up their first three-point haul of the campaign last time out.

No side in the division has drawn more matches than Sao Paulo, though, and we can see this match at Estadio do Morumbi ending all square.