Bahia vs Botafogo Predictions

Friday’s Copa Sudamericana round of 16, first leg features an all Brazilian clash between Bahia and Botafogo. The hosts will be looking to make use of their home advantage in order to take a lead to the second leg.

It’s been a fairly mixed year for Bahia, but booking a place in the quarter-finals of the Sudamericana would certainly rank as a good achievement for the side. Currently just 4 points above the drop zone in Serie A, Tricolor haven’t had the best of domestic campaigns but their continental performances have been far better, having seen off Bolivians Blooming and Uruguayans Cerro to reach this point.

It’s very clear where Bahia’s issues are coming and that’s on the road, so picking up a good result in Friday’s game looks pivotal if the hosts are to advance. Indeed, for all their struggles away from home, Bahia have lost just 2 of their last 29 home matches and having won 17 of said outings, confidence is certainly high coming into this one.

Meanwhile, visitors Botafogo also find themselves in a similar position, in that their continental exploits far out-do their domestic showings. Like Bahia, Fogo’ currently find themselves just 4 points above the drop zone in Serie A but have done well to eliminate Chileans Audax Italiano and Paraguayans Nacional Asuncion to reach this point of the Sudamericana.

Nonetheless, in a continuation of the visitors’ similarities to the hosts, Botafogo are a far stronger outfit on their own patch and their truly wretched away form has to be a huge concern ahead of making the trip. Ze Ricardo’s troops have fell to defeat in 7 of their last 8 away matches and showing little resolve on enemy territory, their prospects really don’t look the brightest.

Ultimately, it looks pretty apparent that whichever team best utilises their home advantage will book their place in the quarter-finals and for that exact reason, Bahia will want to seize control of the tie by claiming victory.

Bahia are a real force to be reckoned with at the Arena Fonte Nova and at current prices, they look well worth backing to win the match, something we’re more than happy to do. The home side have won their last 4 Copa Sudamericana home games without conceding a single goal and that’s a streak Botafogo look highly unlikely to put an end to, with a 2-0 Bahia victory on the cards.