Botafogo vs Palmeiras Predictions

Saturday’s Brazilian Serie A action sees Botafogo doing battle with Palmeiras at the Estádio Nacional Mané Garrincha in Brasília. Palmeiras arrive as clear favourites to win the game due to the venue change.

Even with home advantage, Botafogo would have faced a tall order as regards defeating Palmeiras but the decision to move the match to the capital for commercial reasons now has them well up against it. Fogo’ have effectively sold their home advantage and that doesn’t bode well at all for their chances in the game.

The side already arrive tired, after a trip to Paraguay in the Sudamericana in midweek and the amount of travelling they are doing is surely taking its toll on the team. Having taken 9 points from their opening 5 Serie A games, Botafogo are at least in relatively strong form, but their prospects still don’t look the brightest as regards beating a Palmeiras outfit they’ve lost 4 of their last 5 matches against.

Meanwhile, after cruising to the Serie A title last season, it certainly looks like it will be business as usual for Palmeiras over the forthcoming year. With 13 points after 5 matches, Palmeiras are top of the pile once again and are looking an incredibly consistent and powerful force, now unbeaten in a staggering 28 Serie A matches over this season and last.

Luiz Felipe Scolari’s are a very efficient outfit and have great quality all over the pitch. They are in outstanding form and are functioning well at both ends of the pitch; having won 8 of their last 9 matches to nil; including each of the last 5. The side will clearly be travelling to the capital with another set of three points in mind and it’d take a brave man to bet against them securing them.

Ultimately, Palmeiras look just as strong, if not stronger, than they were last year and this isn’t a match we can envisage them dropping points in. Though they are listed as the visitors in this clash, they’ll likely have more of the crowd in the neutral venue and that’s just one of the numerous factors in their favour on Saturday.

All things considered, we’re more than happy to back a Palmeiras win to nil and feel it provides excellent value at current prices. Palmeiras are stronger than Botafogo in all areas, arrive the fresher of the two and shouldn’t be given many issues in running out victors, with a 1-0 Palmeiras win appearing to be on the cards.