Bahia vs Cruzeiro Prediction: Expect an exciting game

Bahia vs Cruzeiro: Prediction and odds on the Brasileirão match on September 16, 2025

Bahia and Cruzeiro will meet in Salvador for the best game of the round. Bahia is in fifth place and still unbeaten at home, while Cruzeiro is in third. 

Bahia: Form and statistics

Bahia won the Copa Nordeste, a regional tournament, by defeating Confiança in the final, but this victory does not erase the recent poor results. In the last round before the international break, the Baianos lost 5-1 to Mirassol, in their worst performance of the season. Their nine-game unbeaten streak came to an end in the worst possible way. By the 30th minute, Rogério Ceni's men were already losing 3-0, which shows how out of control the team is. A few days ago, Bahia lost 2-0 to Fluminense away and failed to qualify for the Copa do Brasil semi-finals. The Tricolor de Aço had a poor game, struggling to create scoring opportunities. In the first leg in Salvador, Bahia had won 1-0, but at the Maracanã, Fluminense completely controlled the match and deserved to advance in the competition. Bahia fans are hoping for a reaction from their team, but the next game will be tricky, as Cruzeiro is an excellent team.

Bahia: Lineup

Bahia is facing a challenging period regarding injuries, with several key players unavailable.

🔖Bahia starting lineup (4-3-3)

João Paulo – Gilberto, David Duarte, Ramos Mingo, Luciano Juba – Acevedo, Jean Lucas, Éverton Ribeiro – Cauly, Willian José, Kayky

⛔️Out: Erick Pulga, Ademir, Caio Alexandre, Erick, Kanu (injured)

👤Head Coach: Rogério Ceni

Cruzeiro: Form and statistics

Cruzeiro has regained confidence after a shaky spell. Leonardo Jardim's team has won its last four games, two in the league and two in the Copa do Brasil. Recent performances have not reached the level of excellence that the Miners displayed a few months ago when they led the league, but what matters most is winning. In the last round, Cruzeiro struggled to beat São Paulo 1-0 at home. The winning goal came in the 63rd minute from Matheus Pereira, with a free kick that deflected off the Paulistas' wall. The visitors were superior in the first half and could well have gone into the break with the lead. Despite the suffering, the Fox managed an important victory. In midweek, in the Copa do Brasil quarter-finals, Cruzeiro defeated Atlético Mineiro 2-0, repeating the result of the first leg. Kaio Jorge suffered an injury while playing for Brazil against Chile, but recovered in time to help his club against its Belo Horizonte rival by scoring both goals. The upcoming match against Bahia is significant as both teams are fighting for a place in the next Copa Libertadores.

Cruzeiro: Lineup

Lucas Silva and Eduardo are suspended. The captain received his third yellow card and will miss the next game. Eduardo was punished with a three-game ban for seriously injuring Jamerson, the Vitória player. The punishment had been suspended since June, but is now definitive.

🔖Cruzeiro starting lineup (4-2-3-1)

Cássio – William, Fabrício Bruno, Villalba, Kaiki – Matheus Henrique, Romero – Christian, Matheus Pereira, Wanderson – Kaio Jorge

⛔️Out: Fagner, João Marcelo (injured), Lucas Silva, Eduardo (suspended) 

👤Head Coach: Leonardo Jardim

Bahia vs Cruzeiro: Head-to-head statistics

The two teams have met 60 times, and Cruzeiro holds a clear advantage in the head-to-head record. The Mineiros have won 32 games while the Baianos have won 14. On 14 occasions, the games have ended in a draw. Nevertheless, it's worth noting Cruzeiro has not won in Salvador since 2014.

Bahia vs Cruzeiro: Betting tips & Odds

• Bahia won six of its last seven home games. You can bet on Bahia winning for 2.45 at 1xBet;
• Cruzeiro scored first in 9 of its last 10 matches. You can bet that Cruzeiro will be the first team to score for 2.20 at Bet365;
• The TU 2.5 bet has won eight times in Cruzeiro's last eight away matches. You can bet on a game with less than three goals (TU 2.5) for 1.62 at 1xBet.

Bahia vs Cruzeiro match prediction 16 September 2025

In midweek, the two teams had opposite fortunes in the Copa do Brasil. Cruzeiro qualified for the semi-finals while Bahia was eliminated from the competition. The Baianos lost confidence after a shocking 5-1 defeat to Mirassol in the last league match before the international break. Bahia and Cruzeiro are in fifth and third place, respectively, and their goal is to qualify for the Copa Libertadores. It's a clash between direct opponents that should be tight. I'm leaning towards a Total Under 2.5 bet, which has been working in Cruzeiro's away matches.

Our match prediction: TU 2.5 for 1.62 at 1xBet.

Our betting tip for this Brasileirão match: Draw for 3.10 at Betway.

Our final betting tip on the match: Correct Score 1-1 for 6.00 at Bet365.