Attack and midfield should undergo changes in the confrontation with São Paulo

Bahia turned on the alert in the final stretch of the Brazilian Championship. The 3-2 defeat to Vasco, this Monday (28), combined with the fluctuation that the team is experiencing in the second round, put the fight for a place in the Libertadores da América at risk. To solve the problem, coach Rogério Ceni promises to make changes to the team from the next games onwards.

According to the coach, despite the tactical formation considered as starter having reaped good results in 2024, the latest results indicate a limit and call for changes. With the fall to Vasco, the Bahian team increased the distance to the G6. The Squadron occupies 7th place, with 46 points, while São Paulo, which closes the classification zone, has 51.

“Regardless of who starts, the posture cannot be as it was in the first minutes. It doesn’t matter who the players are and the distribution on the field. The accommodated posture was fundamental to what happened [derrota para o Vasco]”, said Ceni, before completing:

“But there is a limit to everything. There comes a limit that you give credit for and everything. We have a few days to train. This team got a lot of points, this way of playing, but today [contra o Vasco] We couldn’t.”

The coach’s main focus is on the attack. Ceni revealed that Biel would be kept among the starters, but was vetoed by the medical department after feeling pain in the lower back again.

The coach has been the target of criticism from the fans due to the good form of strikers Ademir and Lucho Rodríguez. In the 1-1 draw with Cruzeiro, the duo entered the second half and saved Bahia from defeat at Mineirão. Against Vasco, Ademir contributed with a goal and an assist, while Lucho also found the back of the net. Both started the duel on the bench.

To make matters worse, the current phase of the starting attacking duo is not the best. Bahia’s top scorer this season, with 14 goals, Thaciano went ten games without scoring. Everaldo, who has been used on the wing, is going through a four-game drought.

“If Biel was well he would have started playing, but he couldn’t play. Thaciano was important to maintain this contention”, explained the coach.

Ceni also hinted that Luciano Rodríguez will start against São Paulo, next Tuesday (5), at Fonte Nova. For the match, Thaciano will not be available, as he received his third yellow card.

In addition to the attack, the midfield could also undergo changes. Considered the heart of the team, the quartet formed by Caio Alexandre, Jean Lucas, Everton Ribeiro and Cauly has been untouchable until now, but must be disbanded.

The main target is Jean Lucas. In a bad phase, the number 6 was substituted in the first half against Vasco. In his place, Acevedo appears as an option. The Uruguayan returned to the field after ten months away from the field after undergoing knee ligament surgery and left a good impression.

“We expect more minutes from him on the field. He’s an important player, he was very important last year. It’s a shame about the injury. He comes in because the team would be very weak in marking. So we preferred him in the second half to offer more freedom to the men of We needed to score goals and we had chances, we created more than Vasco and we had a great opportunity in stoppage time. The way we played in the first 30 minutes is unacceptable for the final stretch of the championship. analyze what happened at the beginning of the game, what improved in the second half and take that into the next game”, said Ceni.