EC Bahia will face The Strongest this Tuesday, February 25, at 9:30 PM (local time) at the Casa de Apostas Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador, Brazil, for the second leg of the 2025 Copa Libertadores qualification stage. The first leg ended in a 1-1 draw, which means the winner of this match will secure their spot in the next phase, and if there's another tie, the decision will go to penalties.
Behind the bench, Coach Rogério Ceni has been steering Bahia through a solid start to the year. This season, the team remains unbeaten with Ceni, boasting ten games without loss, including seven wins and three draws. The squad is coming off of victory against Juazeirense, and they currently stand third overall as they compete for the Campeonato Baiano. They will look to capitalize on home advantage against the Bolivian side, The Strongest.
The Strongest has been preparing intensively for this encounter since last Friday. They have only played one official match so far this season - the initial clash against Bahia, which ended level. Despite their preparation, they're going to have to confront the inherent challenges of playing away from their altitude advantage.
The match is not just pivotal for the qualification but also carries much weight for both teams' seasons. The team advancing will move on to the group stage of the Libertadores, joining larger South American clubs, whereas the other is relegated to the Copa Sudamericana. With all eyes on the pitch, this game is expected to draw significant attention from fans and analysts alike.
The Bahia team is reported to be fit without any confirmed absentees for this match. The lineup likely includes Marcos Felipe; Gilberto, Kanu, Gabriel Xavier, Ramos Mingo; Caio Alexandre, Jean Lucas, Everton Ribeiro; Ademir, Erick Pulga, and Lucho Rodríguez. Ceni has opted to give players like Luciano Juba more exposure following their strong prior games. On the other hand, The Strongest will suffer from the suspension of Luciano Ursino, who was sent off during the first leg.
Fans who wish to watch the match can tune in to Paramount+, which will broadcast the game live across Brazil.
Looking at the performance statistics, Bahia has secured positive outcomes at home previously, winning six of their last ten games played at Arena Fonte Nova. They're known for efficient goal-scoring, having found the back of the net consistently. The Strongest's away form, contrastingly, shows some vulnerabilities, making them less formidable outside Bolivia.
According to betting odds, Bahia is considered the favorite to win, with odds of 1.2 reflecting their home advantage and recent form against The Strongest. Predictions from betting analysts suggest Bahia to dominate the match and possibly score early.
It’s important to note the broader transformation taking place under the Group City, which acquired Bahia to propel it onto the international scene. With significant investment planned over the coming years, there's hope for the club’s future prospects coming from their performance on this continental stage this year.
With fervent anticipation, the clash between Bahia and The Strongest will undoubtedly be one for the history books, as both teams strive to achieve their Copa Libertadores aspirations. Will Bahia secure their Andrade or will The Strongest rise to the occasion? Fans are eager for clarity.