I AM BA-VI
The entity’s decision alters the tradition of northeastern competition
Published on January 9, 2025 at 8:05 pm
Bahia and Vitória will only meet in the Copa do Nordeste in the event of a knockout stage Credit: Tiago Caldas /EC Bahia
The main competition in the Northeast in the first quarter, the Copa do Nordeste will not feature clashes between state rivals in 2025. The CBF defined new rules for the draw that prevent the classics from taking place.
Unlike recent years, when teams from the same state were placed in different groups that faced each other in the first phase, from now on the clubs will remain separate, but will face rivals from their own group.
Thus, Bahia and Vitória, for example, will only face off against Nordestão if they find themselves in the knockout stage.
The draw for the groups for the Copa do Nordeste is scheduled to take place next Tuesday (14), in Rio de Janeiro. The first phase of the competition will be played with two groups of eight teams. The top four in each group advance to the quarterfinals.
Both the second phase and the semifinals will be decided in a single game, with an advantage for the team with the best campaign. The final features round-trip games.
Bahia appears in pot one, along with Fortaleza, Ceará and Sport. Vitória shares the second pot with CRB, CSA and Sampaio Corrêa. The positioning of Bahian teams within each division follows the National Club Ranking. The third Bahian club in the dispute is Juazeirense, which is in pot 4.
Bring 1: Fortaleza, Bahia, Ceará and Sport
Bring 2: CRB, Vitória, CSA and Sampaio Corrêa
Bring 3: Nautical, Trust, Railway and Altos
Bring 4: América-RN, Juazeirense, Moto Clube and Sousa-PB
