Union Santa Fe put up a good fight on their visit to Bahia last Tuesday, but they ended up losing 1-0 after conceding in the 78th minute. Of course, the side will need to win in order to keep their chances to advance to the quarter-finals. On Saturday, coach Juan Manuel Azconzabal fielded an alternative XI that lost 1-0 away at Racing Club. That means El Tatengue remain sitting in the second spot of group 1 table on seven points, leading third-placed Sarandi Arsenal by three. Union lost three of their last four competitive matches, along with one win. They beat Racing Club 2-0 in their last home match to stop a six-game winless run at of three draws and three defeats Estadio 15 de Abril.
Thanks to a penalty netted by Gilberto in the second half, Bahia beat Union Santa Fe 1-0 at home and will advance to the Copa Sudamericana’s quarter-finals in the event of avoiding the defeat in Santa Fe. Coach Mano Menezes rotated his players on Saturday when the team lost 3-1 at home to Sao Paulo. Therefore, the side dropped down to 12th spot in the Brazilian league table (the last Copa Sudamericana berth) on 28 points in 23 rounds. Bahia won five of their last seven competitive matches (along with two defeats), but the side claimed a single win in their last six on the road, drawing one and losing four.
Two teams in trouble will clash here, Bahia needs at least a draw and I expect Union to struggle to win.