Bahia vs. Santos FC Prediction, Match Preview and Betting Tips, 24 August 2025

Bahia (4th) hosts Santos FC (15th) on 24 August 2025, in a crucial Serie A match at Arena Fonte Nova. Bahia, managed by Rogério Ceni, enters the game in excellent form, unbeaten in their last five matches. They have a strong defensive record, allowing fewer than one goal per match, and boast three clean sheets in recent games. Bahia’s recent 2-1 victory over Corinthians showcased their resilience and defensive prowess.

Santos, struggling with relegation risks, has faced defensive issues, evident in their recent 6-0 defeat to Vasco. They have conceded an average of 1.5 goals per game in 19 matches.

Key players to watch include Bahia’s Jean Lucas, recently included in the Brazilian national team’s preliminary list, and Santos’ standout goalkeeper Gabriel Brazão.

Recommended bet: With Bahia’s home advantage and Santos’ defensive struggles, a home win for Bahia is recommended.

Bahia vs Santos FC Prediction & Betting Tip

Bahia vs Santos FC Prediction
Betting tip	Odds
Home Win for Bahia	1.63

Best Bet Recommendation: Home Win for Bahia

Reasoning:

• Current Form and Standings: Bahia is currently 4th in the league with a recent form of DDDWW, meaning they are unbeaten in their last five matches. On the flip side, Santos FC sits 15th and has been inconsistent, with a recent 6-0 thrashing at the hands of Vasco.
• Defensive Strength: Bahia has demonstrated solid defensive capabilities, keeping three clean sheets in their last five matches. In contrast, Santos FC has conceded 12 goals in their last five games alone.
• Home Advantage: Playing at Arena Fonte Nova gives Bahia an added edge, complemented by their consistent recent performances.

Considering Bahia’s home advantage, superior form, and Santos FC’s defensive issues, a home win for Bahia is a strategic bet to place.

Bahia vs Santos FC Odds

The upcoming clash between Bahia and Santos FC shows a strong favoritism towards the home team, Bahia. This favoritism reflects their better standings and form compared to Santos FC, who have been struggling defensively.

Bahia vs Santos FC Betting Odds
Bet	Odds
Bahia	1.63
Draw	3.77
Santos FC	5.23

Key Points:

• Bahia as Favorites: Bahia is favored to win with odds of 1.63, a reflection of their position (4th) and consistent form, remaining unbeaten in their last five matches.
• Draw Unlikely: With odds of 3.77 for a draw, the bookmakers give it moderate possibility but expect a more definitive outcome.
• Santos FC Underdogs: Santos FC, sitting 15th in the table, have struggled defensively, leading to their longer odds of 5.23 for an away win.

These odds provide a clear indication of the expected match dynamics, with Bahia predicted to leverage their superior form and home advantage.

Bahia Team Analysis

Bahia Recent Performance DDDWW

Bahia has been in solid form recently, going unbeaten in their last five matches with three draws and two wins:

1. Bahia vs Ceara – 1-0 (Win)
2. Corinthians vs Bahia – 1-2 (Win)
3. Bahia vs Fluminense – 3-3 (Draw)
4. Retro FC vs Bahia – 0-0 (Draw)
5. Sport Recife vs Bahia – 0-0 (Draw)

Recent Form: DDDWW

These results highlight Bahia’s strong defensive capabilities, as they’ve kept three clean sheets in their last five games. On average, they’ve scored 1.20 goals per game and have shown resilience and discipline in their defensive strategies.

Key Points:

• Defensive Prowess: Bahia’s defense, marshaled by David Duarte and Santi Ramos Mingo, has been critical in securing clean sheets.
• Attack: Despite their defensive strength, they have managed to find the net consistently.
• Current Form: Unbeaten in the last five matches, indicating a well-rounded performance that balances defense and attack effectively.

Overall, Bahia’s current form and strong defensive record make them firm favorites in this upcoming contest.

Bahia Key Players

Bahia’s strong recent performances have been bolstered by several key players. Michel Araujo is the team’s top scorer, having netted 4 goals so far. Another standout is midfielder Jean Lucas, who has recently been included in the Brazilian national team’s preliminary list, further showcasing his importance to the team.

Defensively, David Duarte and Santi Ramos Mingo have been instrumental in securing clean sheets, exemplified by their resilient showing in the 2-1 victory over Corinthians. Goalkeeper Ronaldo has also played a pivotal role, particularly highlighted by his six crucial saves in the same match.

Expected lineup for Bahia:

• Goalkeeper: Ronaldo
• Defenders: Gilberto, David Duarte, Santi Ramos Mingo, Luciano Juba
• Midfielders: Everton Ribeiro, Nicolás Acevedo, Jean Lucas
• Attackers: Ademir Santos, Willian Jose, Kayky

The upcoming match is likely to see exciting individual battles, especially between Bahia’s attackers and Santos FC’s struggling defense.

Bahia Suspensions & Injuries

Bahia heads into this match with a few injury concerns that could impact their lineup. Key defender Kanu is sidelined with a calf injury and is not expected to return until late November 2025. Midfielders Erick Carvalho and Caio Alexandre are both nursing thigh injuries, with potential return dates in mid-September 2025.

Additionally, Erick Pulga is suspended due to accumulating yellow cards and will miss this match. These absences might disrupt Bahia’s consistency, especially in midfield and defense.

Despite these challenges, the depth in Bahia’s squad and their solid form should help mitigate the impact. Key players like Jean Lucas and David Duarte will need to step up to maintain their momentum.

Injuries:

• Kanu (Calf injury, return late November 2025)
• Erick Carvalho (Thigh injury, return mid-September 2025)
• Caio Alexandre (Thigh injury, return mid-September 2025)

Suspensions:

• Erick Pulga (Yellow cards, banned matches left: 1)

Bahia Tactics and Formation

Bahia Tactical Breakdown:

• Formation: 4-3-3
• Key Forward: Willian Jose
• Midfield Trio: Everton Ribeiro, Nicolás Acevedo, Jean Lucas
• Defensive Strength: Three clean sheets in the last five games.
• Notable Strategy: Bahia often scores most of their goals in the 76-90 minute interval, showing their ability to push strongly towards the end of matches.

Bahia is expected to line up in a 4-3-3 formation against Santos FC, emphasizing both their defensive solidity and attacking threat. Their frontline, led by Willian Jose, will be crucial in breaking down Santos’ vulnerable defense, which has conceded 12 goals in their last five games.

The midfield trio, featuring Nicolás Acevedo and the in-form Jean Lucas, provides a balanced mix of creativity and defensive cover. Defensively, the team leans heavily on David Duarte and Santi Ramos Mingo, who have been pillars in their recent clean sheets. This well-rounded approach ensures Bahia remains a formidable force both offensively and defensively.

Santos FC Team Analysis

Santos FC Recent Performance LDWWL

Santos FC’s last five matches have been a mixed bag, reflecting their 15th position in the league standings:

1. Santos FC vs Vasco da Gama – 0-6 (Loss)
2. Cruzeiro vs Santos FC – 1-2 (Win)
3. Santos FC vs Juventude – 3-1 (Win)
4. Sport Recife vs Santos FC – 2-2 (Draw)
5. Santos FC vs Internacional – 1-2 (Loss)

Recent Form: LDWWL

Santos FC has struggled defensively, failing to secure a clean sheet in their last five games and conceding an average of 2.4 goals per game. Offensively, they’ve managed a decent 1.60 goals per match but have shown inconsistency.

Key Points:

• Defensive Vulnerability: Santos FC has conceded 12 goals in their last five matches, highlighting their defensive issues.
• Offensive Prowess: Despite their defensive struggles, they have managed to score an average of 1.60 goals per game.
• Inconsistency: Their recent form fluctuates significantly, making them unpredictable on any given match day.

Overall, Santos FC’s inconsistency and defensive frailties present significant challenges heading into their match against Bahia.

Santos FC Key Players

Santos FC relies heavily on key players to turn around their fortunes. Alvaro Barreal, the team’s top scorer with 5 goals, is crucial in providing an offensive threat. His performances will be especially vital in penetrating Bahia’s solid defense.

Another key player is goalkeeper Gabriel Brazão, who has caught the attention of national team coach Carlo Ancelotti. Brazão’s performance will be under scrutiny, and his ability to bounce back after conceding 12 goals in the last five matches is essential.

Defensively, the likes of Luisao and Luan Peres need to step up to plug defensive gaps. The midfield dynamism provided by Gabriel Bontempo and Joao Schmidt is also vital for transitioning play from defense to attack.

Expected lineup for Santos FC:

• Goalkeeper: Gabriel Brazão
• Defenders: Mayke, Luisao, Luan Peres, João Souza
• Midfielders: Gabriel Bontempo, Joao Schmidt, Benjamin Rollheiser
• Attackers: Alvaro Barreal, Guilherme Augusto, Tiquinho Soares

These players must perform at their peak to challenge Bahia effectively.

Santos FC Suspensions & Injuries

Santos FC enters the match against Bahia with notable absences that could significantly impact their performance. Neymar Jr, one of their key players, is suspended and will miss this crucial match due to accumulated yellow cards. This is a significant blow, considering Neymar’s influence on the pitch. In addition, the team faces uncertainties regarding the fitness of Willian Arao and Joao Basso, both doubtful due to calf and thigh injuries respectively. These injuries further highlight the defensive frailties Santos FC has exhibited, as they’ve struggled to keep clean sheets recently.

While these absences create challenges, the depth in their squad will need to step up to fill these gaps effectively.

Suspensions:

• Neymar Jr (Yellow cards, banned matches left: 1)

Injuries:

• Willian Arao (Calf injury, doubtful return)
• Joao Basso (Thigh injury, doubtful return)

Santos FC Tactics and Formation

Santos FC Tactical Breakdown:

• Formation: 4-2-3-1
• Key Forward: Tiquinho Soares
• Midfield Duo: Gabriel Bontempo, Joao Schmidt
• Defensive Issues: Conceded 12 goals in the last five games, reflecting their defensive vulnerabilities.
• Notable Strategy: Offensive play focusing on the attacking trio of Alvaro Barreal, Benjamin Rollheiser, and Guilherme Augusto to create scoring opportunities.

Santos FC’s anticipated formation against Bahia is a 4-2-3-1 setup. This structure aims to provide a balanced approach, supporting both defensive stability and attacking prowess. Up front, Tiquinho Soares will lead the line, supported by an attacking midfield trio of Alvaro Barreal, Benjamin Rollheiser, and Guilherme Augusto. These players will be crucial in breaking down Bahia’s defensive setup.

The defensive midfield duo of Gabriel Bontempo and Joao Schmidt will aim to offer protection to the backline, which has been under significant scrutiny recently. The backline, including Gabriel Brazão in goal, will need to be exceptionally coordinated to withstand Bahia’s attacking threats, particularly in the final minutes where Bahia often scores. Overall, their approach will have to overcome both offensive inconsistency and defensive challenges to secure a favorable result.

Bahia vs Santos FC Head-to-Head Statistics

Analysing the last five encounters between Bahia and Santos FC demonstrates a balanced rivalry:

1. Santos FC 2 – 2 Bahia on 6 April 2025 (Serie A)
2. Bahia 1 – 2 Santos FC on 18 September 2023 (Serie A)
3. Bahia 1 – 1 Santos FC (Penalty shoot-out: 4 – 3) on 31 May 2023 (Cup)
4. Santos FC 0 – 0 Bahia on 17 May 2023 (Cup)
5. Santos FC 3 – 0 Bahia on 10 May 2023 (Serie A)

Key Insights:

• Competitive Matches: Past results indicate closely contested games, with more than 2.5 goals scored in 71% of their last seven encounters.
• Recent Draws: Their latest match ended in a 2-2 draw, highlighting both teams’ ability to challenge each other.
• Mixed Results: Santos FC has secured a few wins, but the encounters have largely been evenly matched.

Overall, their head-to-head history suggests a tough, competitive battle with potential for multiple goals.

Odds accurate as of 22/08/2025 20:04, and are subject to change. Please always check the odds before placing your bets with any bookmaker.