Botafogo vs Fluminense Prediction: The two Rio clubs meet in the Grandpa Derby

This Round 8 game is a clash between the two oldest clubs in Rio de Janeiro, hence the name Grandpa Derby or Clássico Vovô, as the Brazilians say. Botafogo is having a good season and seems to have stabilized again since Artur Jorge took charge of the team. Fluminense, on the other hand, is going through a difficult period. The club won its first Copa Libertadores in 2023 but is struggling in the Brasileirão this year. Fluminense is just two places above the relegation zone.

After five games on the road, the Glorious returns home. In this run, Botafogo has managed to progress in the Copa do Brasil, qualify for the Copa Libertadores knockout stage, and remain close to the top of the Brasileirão, just one point behind Flamengo and Bahia. What's more, the Lone Star team hasn't lost any of its five games. In the last round of the Série A, Botafogo won for the first time at the Neo Química Arena, where Corinthians has been playing since 2014. Júnior Santos scored the only game's goal, and he is the fans' great hope of beating Fluminense. Artur Jorge's squad is full of confidence.

The Tricolor experienced a moment of joy this week with the presentation of Thiago Silva. At the Maracanã, 55,000 people welcomed the former Brazil national team player, who returned to the club where he played before his successful career in Europe. Thiago Silva can't help his teammates yet, as the transfer window doesn't open until July. Fluminense will still have a lot of games to play in June without the central defender. Fernando Diniz's team needs victories to get out of the difficult situation it finds itself in, and this derby with Botafogo is not likely to be easy.

The two teams are going through very different periods. Botafogo has played five straight games on the road without losing. In its last match in the Brasileirão, the Fogão won at the Neo Química Arena, a stadium where it had never beaten Corinthians before, and is now third in the table. Fluminense, meanwhile, drew at home to Juventude in another disappointing display. The Tricolor is still very close to the relegation zone. Botafogo is the favorite, but I'm still betting on a Double Chance in favor of the home team with a maximum of three goals in the game. I'm keeping the chance of a draw open, as in matches between rivals, the team with the worst record often pulls off a surprise.