Brasileiro rivals Botafogo and Sao Paulo are set to lock horns at Estadio Nilton Santos in the first leg of their Copa Libertadores quarter-final tie on Thursday morning.
The hosts knocked out defending league champions Palmeiras from this competition in the round of 16, while the visitors overcame Uruguayan Primera Division opponents Nacional.
Match preview
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Botafogo have continued their impressive season-on-season progression this term, as they have not only made reached the top eight in the Copa Libertadores but are also leading the way in their domestic league.
After 26 top-flight matches, Fogo have a record of 16 wins, five draws and five losses, putting them on 53 points, three points clear of Palmeiras and four ahead of Fortaleza in third place.
Key to the league leaders' success under former Braga coach Artur Jorge, has been their impressive attacking output, with 45 goals registered in Brasileiro, which is the most of any side in the division this term.
In this competition, Fogo have been led by Junior Santos, who has scored an incredible nine goals in 12 games, including four in a single match against Aurora during the qualification phase. However, he sustained a broken ankle back in July and is likely to see out the season from the sidelines.
The hosts have been the dominant side in this contest in recent times, unbeaten in the last six encounters between these sides, (W4 D2 L0) though both matches last season ended in draw results.
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Meanwhile, Sao Paulo came through the group stages of this competition with flying colours, topping Group B with 13 points, including a record of four wins, one draw and one loss in their six matches.
After three consecutive mid-table finishes since 2021, Tricolor Paulista are also experiencing a notable improvement in the domestic league, currently in fifth place and just one point behind Flamengo in the fourth and final automatic Libertadores qualification spot.
However, Luis Zubeldia's side's form leading up to the international break did take a dip, suffering back-to-back defeats to Atletico Mineiro and a stuttering Fluminense, before returning to action with a goalless draw away to Galo in the Copa do Brasil and a far from convincing 1-0 win over Cruzeiro in the league last week.
Additionally, despite Sao Paulo having a better season this term than in recent years, their away record is still very poor, with just one win earned in their last nine on the road in all competitions, while they failed to score in six matches during that period.
Team News
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Botafogo could be without as many as seven players for this match, including Carlos Eduardo and Santos, both of whom are likely done for the season owing to a thigh injury and broken ankle respectively.
Cuiabano (thigh), Jeffinho (knee), Pablo (thigh) and Rafael (knee) are also definitely sidelined through injury, while Matheus Nascimento could feature in the matchday squad following his lengthy recovery from a hamstring tear.
Sao Paulo also have a fairly lengthy casualty list at present featuring six players, including long-term absentees Pablo Maia and Alisson, who have been out of action since April and July respectively.
Rodrigo Nestor has missed the last two games with an ankle sprain and is flagged as a doubt, while Patryck (shoulder), Joao Moreira (thigh) and Ferreirinha (hamstring) are expected to remain sidelined until next month.
Botafogo possible starting lineup:
Victor; Ponte, Bastos, Barboza, Cuiabano; Gregore, Freitas, Henrique, Savarino, Almada; Jesus
Sao Paulo possible starting lineup:
Rafael; Rafinha, Arboleda, Franco, Welington; Gustavo, Lizeiro; Rato, Neves, Moura; Calleri
We say: Botafogo 2-1 Sao Paulo
Botafogo's rise to the summit of the league standings has been nothing short of remarkable, and they will enter this match brimming with confidence, unbeaten in their last six matches in all competitions.
Additionally, the hosts are riding a four-match winning streak at Estadio Nilton Santos and we feel they will extend that record with another victory in this one.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Devesh Jaganath
