Fortaleza CE v Botafogo

Fortaleza vs Botafogo Preview

Fortaleza are in grave danger of slipping out of the top 12 pack in the Brazilian top flight table following their latest defeat in Serie A which came in the form of a 1-0 loss at home to Cruzeiro while Botafogo could only manage to muster a point in their recent 2-2 draw away from home at fourth placed Bragantino, so both teams will be keen to return to winning ways here on Thursday night at the Estádio Governador Plácido Aderaldo Castelo.

However, this could be easier said than done, particularly where Fortaleza are concerned as the hosts have not only failed to win any of their last seven matches overall in Serie A but Juan Vojvoda's side have also slumped to six defeats within this sequence meaning this upcoming clash with Botafogo is far from being straightforward.

These six defeats include defeats inflicted upon Fortaleza on home soil at their Estádio Governador Plácido Aderaldo Castelo by way of losses to Flamengo and Cruzeiro but although Fortaleza have lost these last two home games on the trot, the bigger picture does show that Fortaleza have been a rather tough side to beat on their own patch, losing just four of their last 22 home games overall.

Botafogo still currently occupy second spot in the domestic top flight table where they trail the league leaders, Palmeiras, by just a slender two-point margin but for how much longer as the visitors have also experienced some recent turbulence in Serie A as they have failed to win any of their last six matches overall as well.

Four defeats within these last six games have seen Botafogo slump to losses against Cuiaba, Palmeiras, Vasco da Gama and Gremio respectively and although the visitors have managed to pick up points in draws with Athletico PR and Bragantino, these have been overshadowed by the recent losses.

A previously impressive and sustained solid start to this Serie A campaign saw Botafogo suffer just two defeats within their opening 21 games (including no fewer than 16 wins in the process) which handed Tiago Nunes' side the perfect platform from which to build, but subsequent results have been very disappointing by comparison.

Botafogo have managed to collect just a further two wins in their subsequent 12 matches thereafter while also slipping to seven defeats, so confidence must be fragile at best amongst the visitors' camp right now.

Fortaleza v Botafogo Verdict

Previous meetings between Fortaleza and Botafogo have been fairly tight affairs with four out of the last seven encounters resulting in Under 2.5 goals and this is further underlined by the fact that nine of Fortaleza's 16 home games to date have also produced Under 2.5 goals, while 10 of Botafogo's 16 away games have also produced two goals or less.

Therefore, our main bet will be Under 2.5 goals @ 1.72

Other side bets worth considering:

Draw @ 3.50

Correct Score: 1-1 @ 6.50