Botafogo achieved the biggest win of all in the first round, so they are currently top of the standings. This suggests they are aiming to regain the 2024 league title.
Grêmio
And the second obstacle on that path will be Grêmio. Their last major success came in 2023, when they finished as runners-up. In the 2025 season it was important that they improved towards the end and climbed into the Copa Sudamericana places. Their campaign there will start later; for now the squad have begun this very early Campeonato Brasileiro Série A season, brought forward because of the upcoming World Cup. In the first round they were almost level with Fluminense (1.60-2.33 in xG), but still lost 1:2.
Botafogo
It is even slightly surprising that Botafogo are leading, because in the first round they faced last season ’s bronze medallists, Cruzeiro. They used their chances much more efficiently than expected, winning 4:0, even though both sides recorded 1.43 xG. But that was at Estádio Olímpico Nilton Santos; what are they like away from there? In the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, their last four away matches in 2025 all ended in draws, including against the same opposition (2:2).
Grêmio vs Botafogo Prediction
This is why it is clear to us that the odds are shorter on Grêmio. Even so, it is worth considering Botafogo: they thrashed a strong Cruzeiro side 4:0 without a sending-off for the opponents or a penalty, simply scoring three goals between the 76th and 91st minutes. And the home side, in the previous head-to-head in Porto Alegre, avoided defeat (1:1) only thanks to a goal in the 90th minute. We will take the Double Chance on the visitors.
