Botafogo head into their clash with Bragantino on Wednesday night aiming to return to winning ways and maintain their push for the top spots in the Brasileiro Serie A.
Bragantino travel to the Estadio Nilton Santos on Wednesday night knowing a victory can propel them into the top four of the Brasileiro Serie A.
Match Preview
Currently sitting comfortably in fourth place with 20 points, Botafogo boast a strong record at home this season, having won three, drawn one, and lost just one of their five matches at the Estadio Nilton Santos. This home form places them as the seventh-best team in the league in terms of home advantage.
However, a recent slip-up against Cricuima requires a response. Despite picking up 10 points from their last five league outings (three wins, one draw, one loss), their most recent defeat highlights the need for consistency.
One area where Botafogo excel is in attack. They possess the seventh-highest expected goals (xG) in the league (13.0), showcasing their attacking prowess. This firepower is further emphasized by their dominant head-to-head record against Bragantino.
In their 12 meetings, Botafogo have emerged victorious on six occasions, with four draws and only two defeats. Interestingly, the last five encounters have been tight affairs, with the most recent clash ending in a draw.
However, Botafogo have triumphed in two of their last four meetings against Bragantino, suggesting they might hold the upper hand once again.
With a win and potentially favorable results elsewhere, Botafogo could climb as high as third in the table. This match presents a crucial opportunity for them to bounce back from their recent defeat and reignite their push for the top of the Brasileiro Serie A.
While they may not be favorites on Wednesday night, Bragantino travel to Botafogo with ambitions of causing an upset and propelling themselves up the Brasileiro Serie A table.
Currently residing in sixth place with 18 points, their impressive home form, boasting the third-best record in the league with four wins, a draw, and just one defeat, is a cause for optimism. They have capitalized on their home advantage, collecting a strong 13 points from their home matches so far.
However, Bragantino’s struggles on the road are a concern. They travel with the 11th-best away record in the league, having secured only one win, two draws, and two defeats in their five away fixtures so far. This translates to just five points earned away from home, a stark contrast to their home dominance.
Despite these away struggles, Bragantino come into the game in decent form. They have secured three wins from their last five matches, including victories against Gremio, Juventude, and most recently Vitoria. This recent win comes after a loss to league leaders Palmeiras, highlighting their inconsistency.
Furthermore, Bragantino lack a prolific attack, ranking 18th in the league with an xG of 10.1. This lack of firepower is a concern against a team like Botafogo. Their head-to-head record against Botafogo also doesn’t inspire confidence. Their last win against Wednesday’s opponents came in November 2020.
However, a victory at the Estadio Nilton Santos would be a significant scalp. It would not only break their recent winless streak against Botafogo but also see them leapfrog their opponents into fourth place, closing the gap to the top of the table to just six points.
Team News
Botafogo will be without several key players for their crucial clash against Bragantino due to suspensions and injuries.
In a major blow, Botafogo will be without Alexander Barboza, Gregore, and Oscar Romero who are unavailable due to suspension.
The attacking options are also depleted with Jefferson Savarino away on international duty
Adding to their woes, Botafogo are dealing with several injuries in defense and attack. Junior Santos (thigh) is expected to be out for a few days, while Matheus Nascimento (thigh) faces a longer recovery period, not returning until early August 2024.
Pablo (thigh) is also a doubt with a similar injury timeline of a few days. Finally, defender Rafael is sidelined with a knee injury and is not expected back until early July 2024.
Bragantino will also be missing some key players for their matchup against Botafogo, with a suspension and an injury causing headaches for their manager.
- Henry Mosquera sits out the match due to suspension, leaving a gap in their defensive line.
- Midfield Uncertainty: Matheus Fernandes is a doubt for the game with a thigh injury. His absence would be a significant blow to their midfield creativity and control.
- While not an injury concern, right-back Jose Hurtado is away on international duty, further limiting their options in defense.
Botafogo’s predicted lineup vs Bragantino:
Victor; Ponte, Barboza, Bastos, Cuiabano; Gregore, Romero, Tche; Santos, Soares, Henrique
Bragantino’s Predicted lineup vs Botafogo:
Schwengber; Jadsom, Candido, Henrique, Capixaba; Raul, Ramires, Evangelista; Helinho, Sasha, Vitinho
Score Prediction: Botafogo 1-0 Bragantino
While Bragantino’s away record is a cause for concern, their recent form and desire to climb the table shouldn’t be underestimated. However, Botafogo’s home advantage and the absence of key players for Bragantino, particularly in defense, could tip the scales in their favor. Despite their own injury woes, Botafogo’s attacking prowess, highlighted by their superior xG rating, could see them edge out a narrow 2-1 victory