VILA BELMIRO, Brazil — Santos FC and Esporte Clube Bahia clashed in the second round of the Brazilian Championship on Sunday, April 6, 2025, at the iconic Vila Belmiro. Santos, who are currently struggling at the bottom of the table, faced off against a confident Bahia side.
From the kickoff, Bahia set the tone, scoring the opening goal in the 25th minute through Erick Pulga. Luciano Juba’s precise pass enabled Erick to bypass the defense, dribble the goalkeeper, and slot the ball into the net. This early goal put Santos on the back foot as they sought to equalize.
Despite being down, Santos tried to ramp up their attack. They accumulated multiple attempts on goal, notably when William José confronted Bahia’s goalkeeper, Ronaldo, but his shot was saved, denying them a chance to level the score.
As the game progressed, Santos intensified their efforts, but Bahia remained composed. The rain poured heavily, creating challenging conditions on the pitch, complicating passing and dribbling for both teams.
“We knew we had to maintain our emotional control after getting the lead,” Erick said post-match. “We managed to play our game and take the chances that came our way.”
In total, Santos and Bahia have met 60 times, with Santos leading the historical matchup with 28 wins to Bahia’s 19. In the Brazilian Championship, Santos has recorded 21 victories, showcasing their dominance over Bahia in previous encounters.
Santos went into this match without key players like Neymar and Zé Rafael due to injuries, affecting their options on the field. Meanwhile, Bahia operated without Michel Araújo and Everton Ribeiro, providing them with a chance to further assert their strength despite missing key players.
After a tense first half, where both teams struggled to convert shots on target, Bahia maintained the lead into halftime. Santos’ coach expressed optimism and urged the team to maintain pressure, believing an equalizer was within reach.
Santos has been facing difficulties this season, registering no points after losing their opening fixture. Meanwhile, Bahia entered the game with one point and held a mid-table position. “We have to work together, we will get through this,” Santos’ coach said in his post-match interview.
As the match drew towards the end, both teams refocused their efforts, but it was Bahia who sealed the game with a second goal, securing a well-earned 2-0 victory against Santos. This result placed them firmly in the running for the top spots in the league.
