Second-worst away side in Brasileirão, Vitória face Fluminense at Maracanã | OneFootball

Fluminense’s next opponent in the Brasileirão, Vitória arrives at the Maracanã going through one of the worst away runs in the competition. The team from Bahia has earned only two points on the road and has the second-worst record away from home in this edition of the tournament.

So far, Rubro-Negro has played six away matches in the league, with four defeats and two draws, as well as only four goals scored and 15 conceded. Their 11.1% away record worries Jair Ventura’s coaching staff, especially because of the team’s difficulty competing away from Barradão.

The numbers reinforce a favorable scenario for Tricolor at the Maracanã. In addition to the defensive fragility Vitória has shown as an away side, the team from Bahia also ranks among those with the fewest shots in the competition, showing difficulty creating offensively when playing away from Salvador.

On the other hand, their performances at home show a more aggressive and competitive team. At Barradão, Vitória usually raises its physical intensity, presses higher up the pitch, and uses pace on the wings, especially with Erick and Osvaldo. Away from home, however, the team usually drops deeper, relies on quick transitions, and struggles when it has to maintain its defensive organization for longer periods.

Even amid a poor away spell, the recent head-to-head record serves as a warning to Fluminense. In recent seasons, meetings between the two teams have been marked by balance and difficult matches for Tricolor.

Last season, Fluminense was held to a bitter draw in Rio de Janeiro, when it conceded a goal from Lucas Braga in the 45th minute of the second half. In the return fixture, however, Tricolor won 1-0 in Salvador, with a goal from Hércules, and extended its lead in the overall head-to-head record.

All told, Fluminense and Vitória have faced each other 43 times in the Brazilian Championship, with 17 wins for Tricolor, 15 draws, and 11 victories for the team from Bahia. At the Maracanã, the Rio side’s advantage is also clear: nine wins for Flu and only five defeats in 19 matches played.

The timing of the matchup also increases the pressure on Vitória. Needing points to move away from the bottom of the table, Jair Ventura’s team is expected to adopt a more cautious approach in Rio de Janeiro, trying to exploit counterattacks and set pieces.

From Fluminense’s side, the expectation is to take advantage of the opponent’s difficulties away from home to maintain its strength as the host and keep fighting near the top of the table. The tendency is for a Fluminense side controlling possession and trying to speed things up down the flanks against a team that has suffered defensively when pressed away from Salvador.

Among Vitória’s standouts for the match, with Matheuzinho suspended, Tricolor will need to stay alert to Erick and Renato Kayzer, the main attacking references of the Bahia team. Even in an inconsistent campaign, the duo remains Rubro-Negro’s main offensive threat for the clash.

With favorable numbers, a positive record at the Maracanã, and facing one of the worst away campaigns in the Brasileirão, Fluminense heads into the match seeing it as an important opportunity to confirm its status as favorite in front of its fans and maintain the improvement shown by Luis Zubeldía’s team.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.