There’s an all-North-eastern clash in the Brasileirão this Saturday, as Fortaleza play host to Bahia at the Arena Castelão. Both sides come into this match on the back of Copa do Brasil fixtures in midweek. For Bahia, it was penalty shootout glory, whilst Fortaleza, despite creating several chances, failed to overcome Palmeiras’ two-goal lead.

Fortaleza come into this match in great form, they have won their last three matches in all competitions and have kept two clean sheets during this period. They enjoyed a 2-0 victory over Vasco da Gama at the weekend with a dominant display. Despite needing two late goals for victory, their XG of 1.63 compared to Vasco’s 0.56 shows they were worthy winners. On Wednesday evening, they went into their cup tie with Palmeiras 2-0 down following the first leg and Fortaleza dominate the game, creating 20 shots whilst limiting Palmeiras to 3 shots. Unfortunately for Fortaleza, it wasn’t enough, but their display should give them confidence coming into this one.

Despite their shootout victory in midweek, Bahia will be hoping to improve their form, as they haven’t won a match in normal time for five matches with two draws and three defeats. Their last league outing, saw them suffer a 2-0 loss away from home against Internacional. Despite the defeat, Bahia will feel a little hard done by as they rocked up a much better XG than Inter with 1.20 to their 0.24. In midweek, they were moments away from picking up a 1-0 victory against Santos in the Copa do Brasil, but a stoppage-time equalizer sent the game to penalties which they were victorious in. They’ll be hoping that the victory can help them to build momentum coming into this clash.

Fortaleza have enjoyed victories in the last three meetings between this side, including a 3-0 victory in February away from home in the Copa do Nordeste. With Bahia struggling at the moment, the hosts should have enough to pick up the three points here.

Bolivar finally seem to have got it right this season. They are top of their Libertadores group after four games and are cruising into the next round with convincing wins over all three group rivals and more importantly pocketing around 4 million dollars. Their shrewd signings of quality players in key positions (Lampe in goal, Spaniard Hervias in midfield and Argentine Rodriguez and Chilean Fernandez upfront) all seem to have paid off. However, despite all this, there is still cause for concern, as they have lost six of their nine away games this season. They have fallen off the title race in recent weeks and are now seven points adrift of rivals The Strongest at the top.

Tomayapo are sitting midtable in ninth, but only five points off the bottom team Blooming. While relegation should not be a problem, they are excessively dependent on three players, goalkeeper Acosta, former Arsenal signing Samuel Galindo and Brazilian forward Jeffinho. The fact that Bolivar have never lost to Tomayapo and that their players have had a welcome week’s rest point to a close Bolivar win.

One of the biggest games in Brazil this weekend sees the first top-flight edition of the Clássico Mineiro in four years take place. The last league meeting between these sides took place back in 2019; a goalless draw. The sides have met in the Campeonato Mineiro five times since then with Atletico Mineiro winning, three, Cruzeiro coming on top once, as well as one draw which happened in the most recent meeting back in February.

Cruzeiro come into this game in poor form. They are winless in their last four in all competitions and their last outing saw them suffer a Copa do Brasil exit after a 1-0 loss to Gremio at home. Despite the loss, it was Cruzeiro who had the majority of the possession and chances in the game with ten shots on target compared to Gremio’s five. They’ll be eager to make the most of the chances they get in this battle. Their last league outing, saw Cruzeiro earn a creditable draw away from home against Copa Libertadores holders Flamengo.

After a slow start, Atletico Mineiro are gradually finding their form, but suffered a hiccup in midweek, as they were dumped out of the Copa do Brasil by Corinthians in midweek, something they’ll be eager to quickly put behind them. Prior to their defeat in midweek, Galo had won five and drawn one in all competitions, with the draw coming in their most recent league game against Palmeiras at home. They’ll be eager to return to winning ways here and doing it at the home of their greatest rivals would be the perfect way to do so.

One common theme from this clash in recent years has been both sides scoring, something which has happened in the last three meetings. With both sides in mixed form, that could well be on the cards in this duel.