Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Brazilian Série A match.
Following a strong campaign last season, Botafogo have made a slow start and currently sit in mid-standings. São Paulo remain one of seven sides in Brazil’s Série A yet to lose after three rounds, but a run of three consecutive draws has left the squad near the lower end of the standings. With both clubs also competing in the Copa Libertadores, squad rotation is expected to be a factor. Given both teams' pragmatic playing styles, this fixture is unlikely to deliver much excitement.
Botafogo
Botafogo have collected four points from their opening three league matches – a 0:0 draw with Palmeiras, a 2:0 win over Esporte Clube Juventude, and a 0:1 defeat to Bragantino. They have been defensively sound, conceding just once. However, they continue to struggle offensively at home, with each of their last four matches at their stadium featuring no more than two total goals. The departure of Luiz Henrique to Zenit has left a gap in attack, with only Igor Jesus finding the net so far, while the rest of the forward line remains subdued.
São Paulo
São Paulo have opened their campaign with three draws – 1:1 against Sport Recife, 0:0 with Cruzeiro, and 0:0 against Atlético Mineiro. In the Copa Libertadores, the squad claimed a 1:0 win over Talleres and drew 2:2 with Alianza Lima. São Paulo also favour a cautious approach, with fewer than three goals scored in seven of their last eight matches across all competitions.
Botafogo vs São Paulo Prediction
Both sides are currently involved in matches with limited goal output. Botafogo have consistently featured low-scoring games at home, while São Paulo are enduring a series of draws and pose minimal attacking threat. This encounter is unlikely to see more than three goals overall.
