Atletico Nacional Medellin vs Botafogo Predictions, Betting Tips and Match Previews

Reigning Libertadores champions Atletico Nacional will be looking to get their continental campaign back on the right tracks after an opening 2-1 defeat away in Ecuador to Barcelona. While far from disastrous at such an early stage, failure to pick up a positive result here would have them in far deeper trouble. Meanwhile, Botafogo have no such worries, having picked up an early three points from a 2-1 home win over Estudiantes. Given this is by far the hardest game on paper, the visitors can afford to play relatively pressure free.

Several key players departed Atletico Nacional after their triumph last year, but the side have replaced them well and are putting in good performances so far this season. Atletico currently top the Colombian top flight, after taking an impressive 29 points from just 11 games. They may have fell to defeat in the first leg of the Recopa Sudamericana (equivalent of the European Super Cup) by a score of 2-1 against Brazilians Chapecoense, but still have a good chance of adding that trophy to an ever growing cabinet with a second leg to come on home soil. El Verde’s games have been far from dull in recent weeks, with both sides finding the net in 6 of the last 7 and an average of 3.42 goals a game being scored/conceded in the process.

Botafogo are also enjoying a positive start to 2017. They have done very well to have even reached the group stage, having eliminated strong opponents in the shape of Olimpia and Colo Colo in the qualification rounds. A strong run of domestic form has them ready to contest the Taca Rio final this weekend coming. All in all the side have lost just 3 times in the 17 games contested this calendar year, winning 11 in the process. Like their opponents, their last few games have been highly entertaining affairs, with both sides finding the net in 5 of the last 7 and an average of 3.42 goal a game being scored/conceded.

We see this one being an entertaining game. Both sides have big injury concerns at the back, and have been scoring and conceding in large amounts in recent games. Atletico Nacional are a dangerous prospect on home soil, having won all 5 games there this year, but Botafogo have already shown they can hold their own on the road by avoiding defeat in the game at Colo Colo.

Atletico’s last three home wins have came with both sides finding the net and we see that figure becoming four. They should have just enough about them to win the game in front of a passionate home crowd, but Botafogo definitely have the potential to threaten them. Back both teams scoring in a 2-1 home win.