Juventude (Home)
- Two of the Serie A’s underdogs meet at the Estádio Alfredo Jaconi on Friday evening when rock-bottom Juventude welcome Bahia. For those interested, our EC Juventude vs EC Bahia betting tips provide further insight into what to expect from this clash.
- ECJ are 19th in the standings with just 33 points from 35 matches, and they face a 98% probability of relegation.
- The hosts need a win to keep their survival hopes alive and coach Fábio Matias is likely to set up his side in a pragmatic 4-2-3-1, as he has done throughout the campaign.
- Juventude attempt to pack the central areas with bodies in a low-to-mid block, before defending deep and aiming to counter-attack at pace through wide overloads and set piece routines.
- This EC Juventude vs EC Bahia prediction takes into account how Juventude have been more inconsistent of late, with two wins, one draw and two defeats from their last five.
- They did make a comeback from 3-1 down to salvage a 3-3 draw against Cruzeiro last time out, with Gabriel Taliari scoring a brace and assisting another.
Bahia (Away)
- Bahia will need to be wary of those counter-attacks and will have to keep enough men behind the ball to resist Juventude’s long balls and directness.
- However, Rogério Ceni’s side are a much more dynamic and high-tempo outfit than the hosts and they’ll aim to press high up the field and dominate the ball in a 4-3-3 system. This makes EC Juventude vs EC Bahia betting tips especially interesting given the contrast in both teams' styles.
- Bahia have two wins and two defeats in their last five league games, which is enough to maintain them inside the top six of the Brasileirão with around 56 points.
- Their most recent win was a crucial one, the 1-0 victory over Vasco.
Head-to-Head
- Bahia have won three of the last five encounters in the Brasileirão.
- Juventude only claimed a win in this fixture in November 2024.
- Bahia responded with a 3 - 0 victory in the return fixture.
Key Players
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Key players to watch:
- Willian José offers a constant aerial and hold-up threat, as well as a reliable finisher for Bahia to take the lead.
- Jean Lucas orchestrates midfield transitions with composure and control.
- Ademir brings a direct pace and incisive runs in behind defenders.
- Gabriel Taliari scored a brace and assisted another in Juventude’s 3-3 draw with Cruzeiro.
Betting Insights
- Bahia’s odds of 2.17 seem short with ECJ’s odds of 3.6 and draw odds of 3.3 all looking far too big. This is where the EC Juventude vs EC Bahia betting tips provide further context for value hunters.
- With both sides showing a desire and ability to score, but also lacking in the defensive discipline required to prevent their opponents scoring, the BTTS market at 1.89 represents great value.
Prediction
- Bahia should edge this contest given their superior league position, recent head-to-head dominance and more attacking firepower.
- The desperation of the home side could make this a tight and tense affair and Juventude can be dangerous on the counterattack.
- Backing BTTS at 1.89 is recommended for value.
