Fluminense defeats Bahia 2-0 in Maracanã friendly

Fluminense beat Bahia 2‑0 in a pre‑season friendly at the Maracanã on 12 July 2026. Hulk opened the scoring from the penalty spot, marking his first goal for the club, and Germán Cano added a second after an assist from Samuel Xavier. The match also saw the much‑anticipated re‑debut of veteran defender Thiago Silva, who entered in the second half.

The game was used by the CBF to test its semi‑automatic off‑side system and featured numerous tactical changes from both coaches. Bahia complained about several refereeing decisions, including a disallowed goal and the penalty awarded to Fluminense. Both sides will resume the Brazilian Serie A the following week, with Fluminense facing Red Bull Bragantino and Bahia traveling to play Chapecoense.

Overall the friendly provided a platform for new signings to integrate, for the coaching staff to assess squad depth, and for fans to see Hulk and Silva in action before the league restart.