Verdict: Under 2.5 goals
Best Odds: 8/15
Bookmaker: Olympusbet
Hoping to skyrocket their way into the promotion spots late on Friday night, Chapecoense will travel to Sao Paulo when they meet Botafogo.
Botafogo SP
Starting with the hosts, while some in Botafogo’s camp might have opened up the 2025 campaign with their sights set on mounting a genuine top-half charge, Marcio Zanardi’s men have drastically failed to find any kind of fluidity. Last seen putting in another toothless performance as they slumped to a 1-0 loss away at Paysandu, the Panthers find themselves scrapping it out in the drop zone and facing a real battle to keep hold of their Serie B status this season. Suffering consecutive 3-0 drumming against Operario and Athletic Club last month, the former Goias boss has a major job on his hands in Sao Paulo. Putting just a single win on the board from any of their previous six second-tier appearances, Botafogo have also registered just 10 points from any of their first 12 Serie B showdowns. Desperately seeking some kind of boost this weekend, Friday’s hosts have gained an unwanted reputation for their struggles in the final third. In fact, Zanardi’s downbeat squad have drawn a blank in four of their last six outings.
Botafogo SP Team News
Shown what was a costly second-half booking away at Paysandu last week, veteran striker Jonathan Cafu will serve a one-match suspension here. Likewise, all still dealing with respective injury issues, Botafogo will once again be without the likes of Alisson Cassiano, Matheus Barbosa and ex-Estoril midfielder Wesley Dias.
Finding the net in three of his previous four Serie B appearances, 23-year-old Alexandre Jesus will shoulder plenty of Botafogo’s goalscoring threat. Arriving from Guarani ahead of the 2025 campaign, Gabriel Bispo will start in the middle of the park.
Chapecoense
As for the visitors, while Chapecoense might have spent the majority of the 2024 campaign looking over their shoulder at a looming relegation scrap, the Big Green have shown plenty of improvements this time around. Making a welcomed return to winning ways last time out as they clinched a 2-1 victory at home against Ferroviaria, Gilmar Dal Pozzio’s men will be desperate to use that performance as a platform to build on. Losing just a pair of their previous seven Serie B appearances, the Santa Catarina-based outfit are sat within touching distance of finding a route into the promotion spots. Getting Friday’s showdown underway sat just two points adrift of the top-four, Chapecoense could be smelling a potential opportunity here. However, while Dal Pozzo’s camp might have received plenty of plaudits from across Brazil’s second-tier, it should be noted that they have mustered just a sole point from their last four matchups away from the Arena Conda.
Chapecoense Team News
Once again missing out against Ferroviaria last week, Chapecoense are once again expected to be without former Vasco marksman Getulio on Friday night. However, after serving a one-match suspension in Santa Catarina last time out, Joao Paulo could be handed a full recall here.
Bagging a brace at the Arena Conda last week and finally opening his Serie B account, ex-Avai striker Marcinho will spearhead Dal Pozzo’s charge in the final third. Arriving from Juventude last year, veteran goalkeeper Leo Vieira will start between the sticks on Sao Paulo.
Botafogo SP vs Chapecoense Key Factors to Consider
- When Botafogo and Chapecoense last met back in August 2024, Friday’s opponents played out a 1-1 stalemate at the Arena Conda.
- Botafogo have recorded just a single win from any of their previous six Serie B appearances.
- Likewise, the Panthers have drawn a blank in four of those six consecutive matchups.
- Chapecoense have collected just a single point from their previous four Serie B matchups outside of Santa Catarina.
- Seven of Chapecoense’s last eight appearances away from the Arena Conda have finished with under 2.5 goals.
Conclusion
While Chapecoense might open Friday’s showdown knowing that they can skyrocket their way into the promotion spots, the Big Green have shown some worrying issues away from the Arena Conda. Collecting just a single point from their last four Serie B away fixtures, don’t be surprised to see a cagey affair this weekend. It should be noted, with Dal Pozzo’s camp seeing seven of their previous eight matchups outside of Santa Catarina finish with under 2.5 goals, we are expecting a similar outcome here.
Verdict: Under 2.5 goals
Best Odds: 8/15
Bookmaker: Olympusbet
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