MX23RW : Wednesday, December 18 02:25:20| >> :600:2481660:2481660:
[monks data]
Gremio
Brasileiro | Gameweek 14
Jul 9, 2023 at 10.30pm UK
Arena do Gremio
Botafogo logo

Gremio
0 - 2
Botafogo


Reinaldo (30'), Cuiabano (79')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Eduardo (74'), Alberto (88')
Hugo (36'), Tiquinho (58'), Sampaio (76'), Tche (77'), Marcal (90+1')

Preview: Gremio vs. Botafogo - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Sunday's Brasileiro clash between Gremio and Botafogo, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Brasileiro leaders Botafogo travel to Porto Alegre to face Gremio in a top-of-the-table clash on Sunday.

The top two in Brazil will round off matchday 14 when they meet at the Arena do Gremio for the most hotly-anticipated clash of the weekend.


Match preview

Botafogo's Tiquinho Soares celebrates scoring their first goal on June 25, 2023© Reuters

Botafogo enter one of the toughest challenges they will face this season with a very comfortable lead at the top.

They will do so under a caretaker manager too, after Luis Castro's shock exit from the club to join Al-Nassr last week.

Former Lyon and Newcastle United defender Cacapa is currently in temporary charge and will take charge of his second game here.

Cacapa takes on a side seven points clear of Gremio in second, as they have dropped just six points from their opening 13 games of the campaign.

Defeats at Goias and Atletico Paranaense have been the only blips this season, as their home record remains at 100%.

Four wins in succession have moved them well clear of the chasing pack, and they kept that up with a routine 2-0 win over strugglers Vasco de Gama last weekend in Cacapa's first game.

Another clean sheet keeps up their fine defensive record too, as Botafogo remain the only side in the Brasileiro still in single digits for goals conceded - seven.

Form on the continent has not been as convincing though, as just two wins from their six Copa Sudamericana group matches meant they only finished in second behind LDU Quito, meaning they have to play a preliminary knockout round tie against Argentine side Patronato next week.

Gremio should offer a tougher test than many have provided domestically for Botafogo though, given their recent return to form.

Gremio coach Renato Gaucho reacts on June 4, 2023© Reuters

After collecting just eight points from their opening six matches, Gremio have responded excellently to catapult themselves up the table and into second.

Renato Gaucho's side have won six of their last seven league matches, with a 3-0 thrashing at the hands of Flamengo being the only blemish on that record.

Flamengo, Palmeiras and Bragantino are all within touch of Gremio though, so anything but a win here will give all those clubs a chance to leapfrog them into second.

Gremio come into the clash after back-to-back away encounters with Bahia in the last week.

A 2-1 league win was followed up by a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their Copa do Brasil quarter-final, with the second leg coming up in midweek.

Gremio Brasileiro form:


Gremio form (all competitions):


Botafogo Brasileiro form:


Botafogo form (all competitions):



Team News

Gremio's Franco Cristaldo celebrates scoring their first goal on June 4, 2023© Reuters

Luis Suarez should come back into the starting XI after being rested for Gremio's cup tie with Bahia in midweek.

The 36-year-old is the side's joint-top scorer this season alongside Franco Cristaldo with four.

Gremio are expected to be without as many as six players for this encounter though, including attackers Diego Souza and Everton Galdino.

Veteran defender Pedro Geromel is also expected to miss out, along with former Manchester United full-back Fabio, who will miss the chance to come up against his twin brother Rafael.

Botafogo have numerous injury concerns of their own, with Fernando Marcal and Brazilian youth international Matheus Nascimento both currently out.

In attack, Victor Sa missed their win over Vasco last weekend after having to go off at half time in their Sudamericana draw with Magallanes.

Tiquinho Soares is likely to be the key man again for the visitors though, as the Botafogo frontman has 10 goals already this season, making him the division's top scorer.

An additional four assists on top of that means that Soares has been involved in almost two-thirds of the side's goals this season.

Gremio possible starting lineup:
Grando; Martins, Bruno Uvini, Kannemann; Joao Pedro, Villasanti, Carballo, Reinaldo; Cristaldo, Suarez, Bitello

Botafogo possible starting lineup:
Lucas Perri; Rafael, Adryelson, Cuesta, Hugo; Tche Tche, Freitas, Carlos Eduardo; Junior Santos, Tiquinhos Soares, Luis Henrique


SM words green background

We say: Gremio 1-1 Botafogo

Few sides are better equipped and in as good a run of form to take on the league leaders than Gremio currently, having won six of their last seven league games.

Despite their near-imperious record so far this season, Botafogo will find it difficult against a side hoping to close the gap, and there may not be much between the sides.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 2.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 2.5:data


ID:517916:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect13367:
Written by
Andrew Delaney

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Game History

How you voted: Gremio vs Botafogo

Gremio
43.8%
Draw
25.0%
Botafogo
31.3%
16
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Ajax winger Antony pictured in September 2021
Read Next:
Man United confirm Antony shirt number
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Botafogo382310559293079
2PalmeirasPalmeiras38227960332773
3FlamengoFlamengo382010861421970
4FortalezaFortaleza381911853391468
5InternacionalInternacional381811953361765
6Sao Paulo381781353431059
7Corinthians381511125445956
8Bahia38158154949053
9Cruzeiro381410144341252
10Vasco da GamaVasco38148164356-1350
11Vitoria38138174552-747
12Atletico Mineiro381114134754-747
13Fluminense381210163339-646
14Gremio38129174450-645
15JuventudeJuventude381112154859-1145
16BragantinoBragantino381014144448-444
17Athletico ParanaenseAthletico PR38119184046-642
18CriciumaCriciuma38911184261-1938
19Atletico GoianienseAtletico GO3879222958-2930
20Cuiaba38612202949-2030


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!