Brasileiro | Gameweek 10

Jun 5, 2025 at 12am UK

Estadio Nilton Santos

Botafogo vs Ceara

Match preview

Although Renato Paiva's Botafogo were eliminated from the Copa do Brasil on 23 May, that was their only defeat in their last seven matches, a run that also included five wins and one draw.

On Sunday, Botafogo started June with a 1-0 away victory against struggling Santos, and Paiva will have been pleased to see his team capitalise on Neymar's sending off to secure all three points.

This triumph puts Paiva's team in ninth place in the table with 15 points from 10 league games, putting them five points ahead of 17th-placed Fortaleza, who are in the relegation zone, and three points behind sixth-placed Bahia.

The hosts on Wednesday will be hoping to reach the Copa Libertadores spots with another victory. Having recorded five straight wins — and gone eight matches unbeaten — at the Nilton Santos Stadium ahead of this clash, they will be confident of achieving a positive result.

If the 2024 champions can maintain their excellent form at home in the midweek fixtures, they could overtake Atlético Mineiro, Mirassol and Bahia to reach the top six based on goal difference. However, a loss would allow their rivals to drop them to 13th place.

Meanwhile, Leo Conde's Ceará started May by earning seven points from a possible nine. However, after suffering back-to-back losses, they will be hoping to resume their climb up the table.

Last time out, Vozão compounded the disappointment of being knocked out of the cup with a 3-0 loss to Palmeiras and a 1-0 defeat at home to Atlético Mineiro. The boss will be frustrated that his team had six more shots than their opponents yet lost to a 78^(th)-minute strike from Rony.

Losing three points on Sunday saw Conde's team drop to 10th place, level on 15 points with 12th-placed Grêmio, 11th-placed Corinthians, and their ninth-placed opponents.

However, with a poor away record of four losses and two draws in their last six games, the visitors will find it difficult to keep up with their rivals in the Libertadores race this week, especially since they have failed to score in their last three away games.

Their first away win of the season would lift them above Botafogo into the top six, but defeat is likely to see them fall behind the rest of the pack.

Recent Performance

Botafogo Brasileiro form:LWLWDW

Botafogo form (all competitions):WWDLWW

Ceara Brasileiro form:LDWDWL

Ceara form (all competitions):LWDWLL

Team News

Botafogo manager Paiva has a mostly fit squad to choose from, but winger Matheus Martins, who has been out with a hamstring injury since 27 April, may not be available.

If Martins is unavailable, Artur and Allan are likely to start out wide once again, supporting striker Rwan Cruz and attacking midfielder Jefferson Savarinho, after left-flankman Cuiabano missed out against Santos.

Ceará have a fully fit squad ready for the trip to the Nilton Santos Stadium, so expect to see centre-forward Pedro Raul backed up by Antonio Galeano and Pedro Henrique.

In midfield, Fernando Sobral and Dieguinho will be looking to provide stability, with attacking midfielder Lucas Mugni operating ahead of them.

Elsewhere, Marllon is expected to captain the visitors from the heart of Conde's backline, while Fabiano Souza and Nicolas will provide overlapping runs from full-back.

Possible starting lineup

Botafogo possible starting lineup:

John; Vitinho, Jair, Ricardo, Telles; Gregore, Freitas; Artur, Savarino, Allan; Cruz

Ceara possible starting lineup:

Miguel; Souza, Marllon, Machado, Nicolas; Sobral, Dieguinho; Galeano, Mugni, Henrique; Raul