FORTRESS MINEIRÃO: CRUZEIRO LOOK TO EXTEND IMPRESSIVE HOME RECORD AGAINST BAHIA

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Cruzeiro v Bahia April 17, 2025

The historic Mineirão stadium in Belo Horizonte will host a compelling Brazilian Série A clash this Thursday as Cruzeiro welcome Bahia in a matchup that has historically favored the home side.

Cruzeiro's dominance on home soil against the Tricolor has been remarkable, with the Raposa scoring in each of their last 17 home games against Bahia in the Brasileirão Série A. This impressive scoring run has translated into 11 wins, 5 draws, and just a single defeat – a 2-1 reverse back in 2013.

The hosts' comfort at Mineirão extends beyond just matches against Bahia. In their last three Brasileirão Série A campaigns (2019, 2023, and 2024), Cruzeiro won their first two home games of each season. The pattern appears to be continuing in 2025, with the Raposa already securing a 2-1 victory against Mirassol in their home opener.

"Our supporters create an incredible atmosphere at Mineirão," said Cruzeiro's coach. "We feel their energy from the first minute to the last, and that gives us an extra boost, especially in these important early-season matches."

A significant development for Cruzeiro came in their previous match against São Paulo, where they scored from a corner kick – their first set-piece goal in the Brasileirão since September 2024, when Zé Ivaldo found the net against Vasco da Gama. Prior to this breakthrough, they had gone 12 consecutive league games scoring exclusively from open play.

For visitors Bahia, the challenge is clear – they must overcome both history and their own current form if they're to secure a positive result. The Salvador-based club has drawn each of their first three matches of the 2025 Brasileirão Série A campaign. Remarkably, no Brazilian team has ever drawn their first four league games in the 21st century, a statistic Bahia will be keen to avoid becoming associated with.

Despite their inability to secure a win so far this season, Bahia have shown attacking promise through the contributions of one key player. All four of their goals in the 2025 Brasileirão Série A have involved Luciano Juba directly, with the versatile left-sided player scoring once and providing three assists. This places him joint-top of the goal involvement charts alongside Vasco da Gama's Pablo Vegetti.

"Juba has been exceptional for us," acknowledged Bahia's manager. "But we need more players to step up if we're going to turn these draws into wins. Cruzeiro away is always difficult, but we believe we have the quality to get a result."

Thursday's clash represents a fascinating battle between a team looking to build momentum at home and visitors desperate to secure their first win of the campaign. With Cruzeiro's impressive historical record against Bahia at the Mineirão, the Tricolor will need to produce something special to leave Belo Horizonte with all three points.

We thank OPTA for providing the statistical data. Photo: source XYZ