Botafogo vs Internacional Prediction: Team News and Lineups Preview

Saturday night Brasileirão action. Our South American expert Nathan Joyes provides his Botafogo vs Internacional prediction, team news, lineups and fixtures preview. 

Botafogo sit top of the tree after an impressive 1-0 win against Palmeiras midweek, and they will have their tails up as they look to steal an advantage over their rivals. It’s been a tough period for Inter, but goals haven’t been an issue, home or away.

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• Botafogo vs Internacional Tip 1: Botafogo to win
• Botafogo vs Internacional Tip 2: BTTS Yes
• Botafogo vs Internacional Tip 3: Jefferson Savarino to score

Botafogo vs Internacional Prediction 1: Hosts to edge it?

Brazil, Brasileirão, Saturday, July 20th, 22:30 (UK)

Botafogo’s surprise title charge last campaign may have seen them fall flat on their face, but this year is very different. Under former Braga manager Artur Jorge, and with serious investment made by owner John Textor, this is a team capable of winning the league – and they deservedly sit high up the table.

Botafogo are unbeaten in their last five, winning four of those, which included a 3-0 hammering of Atletico Mineiro and 1-0 win over Palmeiras.

With the likes of Luiz Henrique, Tiquinho Soares and Junior Santos all collectively pulling together, Botafogo has one of the best attacking lines in the league, and explains why they have scored 27 goals in 16 matches – with only Flamengo outsourcing them by one.

A fluid formation adopted by Jorge allows his team to express themselves in the final third when on the ball, and on their 3G pitch, they can play to a higher tempo than their opponents are used to.

Internacional have had it incredibly tough this campaign. Likely to finish in the top six/eight, the horrific flooding in the south of Brazil has seen them struggle to find any consistent rhythm. With what has happened, players have chosen to depart, and the latest saw highly-rated winger Mauricio join Palmeiras.

Expect Botafogo’s price to shorten, which is why I’m willing to put them up as a tracked selection.

• Botafogo vs Internacional Prediction 1: Botafogo to win (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 1.727
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 8/10

Botafogo vs Internacional Prediction 2: Visitors to cause issues

Although Inter haven’t won in any of their last seven matches at the time of writing, they’ve only failed to score in one of those. That came in a 1-0 defeat to Rosario in the Copa Sudamericana – they have, however, scored against all Brazilian opponents they’ve faced that stretches back to the beginning of June.

In fact, since the start of the season, Inter have scored in 18 of their 20 matches – it’s keeping the ball out of the net which has hindered their progress.

Inter also welcomed back Rafael Borre who has spent the past few weeks at the Copa America with Colombia, who is by far their strongest striker. This will be a huge confidence boost for the club ahead of a difficult trip to the Nilton Santos stadium.

Botafogo have also been firing at home. Not only are they the second highest scorers in the league, but they’ve also scored in every single home match in 2024, and it’s unlikely Inter will be able to prevent them.

• Botafogo vs Internacional Prediction 2: BTTS Yes
• Best Odds: 4.33
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 7/10

Botafogo vs Internacional Prediction 3: Back the Venezuelan winger

All eyes will be on Tiquinho Soares, Junior Santos and Luiz Henrique, but after their midweek fixture against Palmeiras, Jorge may look to rotate as the schedule gets hectic one more.

With that in mind, Venezuelan winger Jefferson Savarino could be brought into the starting XI, who has excelled since returning from Copa America. The former Real Salt Lake attacker scored on his return to Brazil against Atletico Mineiro despite playing 20 minutes. 

He was rewarded with a start against Vitoria, and scored the only goal that helped his team claim all three points. Able to operate on either flank, Savarino is a highly experienced player having spent two seasons in the MLS, where he scored 18 goals.

Expect Savarino to drift into the middle when the opportunity presents itself, and if he finds himself one on one with 37-year-old centre-back Gabriel Mercado, there’s only going to be one winner.

• Botafogo vs Internacional Prediction 3: Jefferson Savarino to score
• Best Odds: 3.50
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 6/10

Botafogo vs Internacional Prediction odds via bet365 as at 20:00, July 17th, 2024. Odds may now differ.

Botafogo vs Internacional Possible Lineups

Botafogo possible starting lineup:
Victor; Cuiabano, Barboza, Bastos, Suarez, Barbosa, Freitas, Eduardo, Savarino, Santos, Henrique

Internacional possible starting lineup:
  Santana; Rene, Fernando, Gomes, Bustos, Romulo, Henrique, Gomes, Hyoran, Patrick, Borre

Match Stats: Hosts can’t stop scoring

• Four of their last five head-to-heads have seen both teams find the back of the net.
• Jefferson Savarino scored in his first two matches back from Copa America.
• Botafogo have scored in every home match in 2024.

Botafogo Fixtures

• Vs Sao Paulo (A)
• Vs Cruzeiro (H)
• Vs Atletico GO (A)
• Vs Juventude (A)
• Vs Palmeiras (H)

Internacional Fixtures

• Vs Rosario (H)
• Vs Bahia (A)
• Vs Palmeiras (H)
• Vs Athletico PR (H)
• Vs Atletico GO (A)

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