Bahia vs Liverpool Montevideo Predictions

Thursday’s Copa Sudamericana first round, first leg clash sees Brazilians Bahia and Uruguayans Liverpool Montevideo doing battle. The hosts arrive as big favourites to advance from the tie and will be looking to do most of the work here on home soil.

Bahia have found themselves in a rather unique and bizarre situation in the build-up to this game, having been forced to play away at Alagoinhas late last night in the Campeonato Baiano. Nonetheless, with a reserve XI having been fielded in the 1-1 draw, those taking to the pitch less than 24 hours later will do so in fresh condition.

Bahia were pretty impressive in the Sudamericana last year, seeing off Blooming, CA Cerro and Botafogo prior to defeat to eventual winners Athletico Paranaense in the quarter-final. Now back in the competition courtesy of their 11th placed finish in last season’s Serie A, Tricolor will be looking for another sustained continental run and confidence can be high coming into this fixture, having won 5 of the last 6 home ties in Sudamericana action.

Meanwhile, visitors Liverpool arrive looking to avoid the same fate they suffered in the competition last season; a first round exit to Brazilian opposition. It was Fluminense who got the better of the Uruguayans last season and there can be little doubting they’ll have to cause a huge shock if they are to fare any better this time around.

Liverpool have tiny resources in comparison to Bahia and their squad simply does not carry any weight on the continental scene. The best they’ve ever achieved in continental action was a 2012 run to the last 16 of the Sudamericana and having won just 1 of their last 14 away games going back to the end of last year, it’s fair to say their prospects look very bleak prior to kick off.

Ultimately, this is a tie Bahia will be fully expecting to win and on paper they have more than enough about them to do so comfortably. Whilst not one of Brazil’s big hitters, Bahia have finance and status that dwarfs that of their opponents, and it’ll be an embarrassing exit if the hosts were indeed to slip up.

That’s not something we envisage them doing however and typically very strong at the Arena Fonte Nova, Bahia are likely to put one foot in the next round on Thursday. Betting wise, there’s not a huge amount of value in backing the straight home win, but backing it alongside a clean sheet does look appealing and that’s where our money is going.

Bahia have won 4 of their last 6 home Sudamericana clashes to nil and with Liverpool set to bring an extremely defensive game-plan, the hosts shouldn’t be too troubled defensively, whilst going forward they have enough quality to get the job done, with a 2-0 win on the cards.