Back
Steffen Schmidt - August 11, 2023
Botafogo vs Internacional
Brazilian Serie A
Date: 13 August 2023, Sunday
Kick-off at 01:00 UK / 02:00 CET
Venue: Estadio Nilton Santos (Rio de Janeiro).
Internacional enjoyed a magical night on Tuesday in Porto Alegre as they eliminated Argentinean heavyweights River Plate from Copa Libertadores after a super-intense penalty-kick drama.
The team led by Eduardo Coudet chased a one-goal deficit in the reverse leg on the home patch. They had a two-goal lead when Alan Patrick found the back of the net with minutes to go.
Nevertheless, River forced the penalties with a 90th-minute goal but it did not break Internacional’s players who showed great nerves to advance after shocking ten series of shootouts.
Internacional will now face Bolivian side Bolivar in the quarterfinal of the elite continental competition with the first leg being scheduled for August 22nd.
Coudet’s men will now return to domestic duties as they visit Rio de Janeiro for the clash against sovereign leaders Botafogo in the first match of Gameweek No 19 on Saturday night.
Internacional are winless in six straight Serie A fixtures and they have only won two of nine away outings in this term of the competition.
Botafogo were also in action in mid-week as they advanced to the Copa Sudamericana quarterfinal by holding onto a goalless draw away at Club Guarani on Wednesday evening in Paraguay.
It was the second straight goalless draw for Fogao who are undefeated in 15 subsequent outings in all competitions.
The hosts are 13 points clear at the top of the Serie A standings and they still own a perfect record of 9 wins in 9 matches on the home patch with a shockingly good 20-2 goal difference in the process.
It is very hard to look past the home win pick at the 2.00 odds knowing about Botafogo’s impeccable record at Estadio Nilton Santos this season.
We will alternatively back the hosts to keep a clean sheet at the 2.25 odds knowing they have only shipped two goals in nine home fixtures this term.
