Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Brazilian Serie A match.
The reigning Brazilian champions cruised past Red Bull Bragantino in the domestic cup with a 3:0 aggregate score, keeping a clean sheet across both legs. Facing Fortaleza, Botafogo will view this fixture as a strong opportunity to break into the top four of the league standings.
Fortaleza
The defensive structure that helped the squad secure respectable positions last season has largely fallen apart. The squad picked up a point against Corinthians Paulista (1:1) in the previous round but remain three points adrift of 16th place. At home, Fortaleza have conceded 10 goals in nine matches and earned just 11 points — only Recife have collected fewer, with four.
Botafogo
Meanwhile, Botafogo are enjoying a strong run of four consecutive domestic away wins. The coaching change following the Club World Cup appears to have had a positive impact, bringing stability and renewed motivation to the squad. Even in their 0:2 defeat to Cruzeiro, there were encouraging signs: the squad recorded 11 shots and posted a respectable 0.67 xG, underlining a consistent attacking approach against the league leaders.
Fortaleza vs Botafogo Prediction
Since May 2022, Botafogo have beaten Fortaleza in four of their last six encounters. A double chance on Botafogo seems a stable and reliable choice in the betting market.
