Botafogo vs Vasco da Gama Prediction: Botafogo is the favorite in the derby

Botafogo and Vasco da Gama will meet again for another Friendship Derby, with seven rounds left to play in the Brasileirão. Botafogo is in first place, three points ahead of Palmeiras, so only victory matters against its rival. Meanwhile, Vasco da Gama occupies ninth place, which could eventually grant access to the Copa Libertadores if Brazilian clubs win international competitions this year. Botafogo and Cruzeiro are in the finals of the Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana, respectively, so there may be nine clubs from Brazil in the next edition of the legendary competition.

The Lone Star club has qualified for the Copa Libertadores final for the first time in its history. Botafogo lost 3-1 to Peñarol in Montevideo, but a crushing 5-0 win in the first leg made the difference. In the Brasileirão, the Glorious has a three-point lead over Palmeiras, so there's little margin for error. It's been a dream season for the Cariocas, but it could all become a nightmare if they lose both titles. Artur Jorge's men will enter the pitch confident in beating rival Vasco.

The Giant played as host for two consecutive games and made the most of it by winning both. In the last round, the opponent was Bahia, and the Vascaínos won 3-2 after leading 3-0 after 32 minutes. Rafael Paiva's team climbed to ninth place and gained confidence. Emerson Rodríguez and Payet, with two goals, were the scorers for Vasco do Gama. The possibility of qualifying for the Copa will motivate the players in the final rounds.

Botafogo is the favorite, even though it failed to beat Vasco both times the teams met this year. In Round 13, the game ended in a draw, and in the Campeonato Carioca, Vasco won 4-2 at the Nilton Santos before coach Artur Jorge arrived at Botafogo. I'm backing Botafogo to win with at least two goals scored in the match to increase the odds.