Bahia vs Fortaleza EC

Bahia vs Fortaleza EC Predictions, Lineups & Betting Tips

Match Details: November 20, 2025 | Casa de Apostas Arena Fonte Nova | Brazil Serie A | 21:00 GMT

Bahia host Fortaleza as we progress into the final stages of the Brazil Serie A season, with a match that has major implications at both ends of the table. The hosts are the favourites going into this game and, given their respective league positions and teams on paper, we back them to take three points here.

Key Betting Tips: Bahia to Win at 1.55 odds on BoyleSports represents good value based on the tip provided by our algorithm.

They're fighting at the top end of the table and have a lot to play for, so don't expect any complacency from Bahia despite playing a comparitively weaker opposition. A slip-up could be very costly, but it doesn't look likely.

Bahia vs Fortaleza EC Predicted Lineups

Bahia Predicted XI (4-3-3): Ronaldo Strada; Luciano Juba, Santiago Ramos Mingo, David Duarte, Santiago Arias; Nicolás Acevedo, Jean Lucas, Everton Ribeiro; Erick Pulga, Willian José, Ademir

Michel Araujo will be suspended for this game after accumulating too many yellow cards, while Gabriel Xavier and Gilberto Junior miss out through injury. Mateo Sanabria will also be out for the rest of the season, but Everton Ribeiro returns to the side after his illness after playing 33 minutes last time out as a reintroduction to the side.

Fortaleza EC Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Brenno; Bruno Pacheco, Gastón Ávila, Gazal, Eros Mancuso; Pierre, Lucas Sasha; Breno Lopes, Lucas Crispim, José Herrera; Deyverson

Fortaleza will be eager for the end of the month to come around, as Bruninho, Leandro Martinez, Rodrigo Santos, Marinho and Weverson are all due to return from injury then. Joao Ricardo will be out for the remainder of the season.

Bahia vs Fortaleza EC Current League Standings

Bahia currently sit in fifth, chasing a spot in the top four which would give them automatic qualification for the Copa Libertadores. If they stay where they are then they will have to go through qualification for the competition, but they're also at risk of falling to seventh, where Fluminense are only two points behind them, which would see them end up in the Copa Sudamericana instead.

Though mathematically possible, they aren't really at any risk of dropping as far as 13th, which would see them fail to qualify for any tournaments at all, as they would have to lose an 11 point gap in five games.

Fortaleza, however, are in the depths of the relegation battle, four points from safety with five to play. They have just 31 points from 33 games, and the sides ahead of them have been picking up points lately, so it's going to take a big end-of-season push to keep them in the Serie A for next season.

Bahia vs Fortaleza EC Head-to-Head Timeline

Recent Head-to-Head Results:

Bahia have both history and recency on their side in this fixture, beating Fortaleza three times in their last five to take their total amount of victories up to six. Fortaleza have only managed four wins over Bahia, with three games ending in a draw, but one result that stands out in recent years was the unexpected 4-1 trouncing they inflicted on Bahia last season. We aren't expecting anything remotely close to a repeat of that game, this should be Bahia's three points.

• July 19, 2025: Fortaleza EC 1-1 Bahia (Serie A)
• July 10, 2025: Bahia 2-1 Fortaleza EC (Copa do Nordeste Final Stage)
• September 22, 2024: Fortaleza EC 4-1 Bahia (Serie A)
• June 14, 2024: Bahia 1-0 Fortaleza EC (Serie A)
• October 21, 2023: Bahia 2-0 Fortaleza EC (Serie A)

Bahia and Fortaleza EC Recent Matches Analysis

Bahia Last 5 Matches:

• Bahia 2-2 Internacional (A) - Serie A
• Bahia 0-3 Atletico Mineiro (A) - Serie A
• Bahia 2-1 Red Bull Bragantino (H) - Serie A
• Bahia 0-2 Sao Paulo (A) - Serie A
• Bahia 1-0 Internacional (H) - Serie A

Failure to beat Internacional for a second time in five games will have been frustrating for Bahia, as well as the 3-0 embarrassment they faced to Atletico Mineiro, who are also lower down the table than them. Results lately have been uninspiring, but it's getting to the stage where it becomes now or never for Copa Libertadores qualification, so Bahia will need to turn things around quickly. This becomes almost an ideal fixture, then, as they face a side who have been poor this season in Fortaleza.

Fortaleza EC Last 5 Matches:

• Fortaleza EC 3-3 Atletico Mineiro (A) - Serie A
• Fortaleza EC 2-2 Gremio (H) - Serie A
• Fortaleza EC 1-1 Ceara (A) - Serie A
• Fortaleza EC 1-1 Santos FC (A) - Serie A
• Fortaleza EC 1-0 Flamengo (H) - Serie A

Fortaleza have gone toe-to-toe with a lot of mid-table sides lately and, rather frustratingly, always end up even with them. They can't seem to find that extra push to get them over the line with three points, suffering late heartbreak against Ceara when they conceded in the last minute. That was forgotten, though, when they inflicted the same feat upon Atletico Mineiro, a 90+3' goal completing a six-goal thriller. Though they are technically unbeaten recently, they desperately need to turn draws into wins or they will be destined for the drop.

Bahia vs Fortaleza EC Predictions

Our advanced algorithm analyses over 200 data points to generate these predictions with 66.70% confidence in Bahia to Win. The model factors in current form, head-to-head records, player availability, and tactical matchups.

Best Bahia vs Fortaleza EC Betting Tips

Football Park’s Best Bet: Bahia to Win @ 1.55 - With so much on the line for Bahia, they will be doing everything they can to make sure they don't slip up against one of the weaker teams in this year's Serie A. We expect them to find their form again and win.

Key Players to Watch: Bahia vs Fortaleza EC

Willian José (Bahia): Having found the net six times in his last seven games, the journeyman who you may remember from Wolves, Betis or Sociedad has been in fine form lately. José offers a massive threat in the box, so the Fortazela defence will need to mark him closely.

Deyverson (Fortaleza EC): The striker hasn't had the most prolific season with Fortaleza, but coming off the back of a hat-trick against his former side Atletico Mineiro, including a penalty in the 93rd minute which required immense composure, it would be ridiculous to suggest that Deyverson isn't the player to watch in this game.

Bahia vs Fortaleza EC Match Facts

Referee: N/A

Stadium Information: Located in Salvador, Bahia, Casa de Apostas Arena Fonte Nova (bit of a mouthful isn't it) has a capacity of 47,902.

Bahia vs Fortaleza EC: Final Prediction

Bahia 3-0 Fortaleza EC