Bahia vs Fluminense Prediction: Fluminense is already planning for the Copa Libertadores final

With the Copa Libertadores final set for next weekend, no one expects Fluminense to be at full strength in Salvador. In the previous match against Atlético-MG, players like Marcelo, Cano, Keno, Samuel Xavier, Felipe Melo, and Ganso were absent, and Fernando Diniz once again will probably choose the team to face Bahia, taking into account the match with Boca Juniors. The Baianos, in 15th place, need points to escape relegation and have the opportunity to beat a Fluminense side focused on winning South America's most important competition.

Rogério Ceni also opted to spare some players in the 1-0 defeat against Palmeiras. The Brasileirão has entered its final stage, and the rounds will have short three-day breaks until the end of the competition. Bahia's coach probably thought it would be better to rest some players against Palmeiras so that he could field a team in better condition to face Fluminense. This management of player effort is going to be a constant for all the teams until the end of the Série A campaign. In the last few rounds, we've already started to see some surprising results, and this volume of matches certainly has its influence. As well as playing at home, the Baianos will field their best players and could win the game.

The Tricolor had a mediocre display at the Arena MRV against Atlético Mineiro. Paulinho scored both goals in the second half and brought justice to the final result, as the Rooster was always closer to scoring than the Cariocas. Fluminense always played very far from Everson's goal and, therefore, never posed much of a threat to the experienced keeper. We don't know if the team that will play at the Arena Fonte Nova will be the same as the one that played against Atlético, but one thing is sure: Fluminense has to do much better if it wants to pick up a point.

Bahia is the bookmakers' favorite, precisely for the reason mentioned here. Fluminense is currently thinking about the Copa Libertadores final on November 4 and is unlikely to field its best team in Salvador. I'm betting on a Bahia victory, with a maximum of five goals scored by both teams in total.