Fortaleza vs Botafogo Prediction: Two good teams meet in an even matchup

Fortaleza, in 12th place in the standings with six points, hosts third-placed Botafogo, with nine points. The Cearenses have a game in hand and still haven't lost in the Série A, with one win and three draws, so their ranking is a little misleading. The Cariocas have won three games but have lost twice. Both sides have quality players and good coaches, so the match should be balanced with no favorites.

The Lion of Pici suffered a shock defeat in Bolivia against Nacional Potosí in the Copa Sudamericana after 11 games without a loss. Fortaleza, Group D leader, lost 4-1 to a team that had yet to win a game. Playing at an altitude of 4,000 meters isn't easy, and the Cearenses struggled physically. Qualification for the next stage is not in jeopardy, but the first place in the group is at risk. The truth is that with three straight draws before this defeat in Bolivia, Fortaleza is on a four-game winless streak. At home in the Brasileirão, Vojvoda's team has played two games and drawn both, against Cruzeiro and Bragantino. The team seems tired but needs to react.

The Glorioso won a crucial Copa Libertadores match against LDU Quito. Botafogo won 2-1 in a game plagued by lengthy VAR stoppages. Júnior Santos scored the winning goal in the 69th minute after 1-1 at half-time. It was the ninth goal for the Baiano, the competition's top scorer. The winger has been playing as a striker to replace the injured Tiquinho Soares. After two defeats in the first two rounds, the Lone Star team won two home matches and climbed to second place in the group. It was a good result for Artur Jorge and his team after the defeat at home to Bahia in the last round of the Série A. The Cariocas lost the lead with that unexpected result but will go to Fortaleza motivated by their victory over the Ecuadorians.

It's a game where anything can happen. Botafogo beat Flamengo at the Maracanã but also lost at home to Bahia, so the team is somewhat erratic. Fortaleza suffered a shocking 4-1 defeat in Bolivia against Arsenal Potosí. The defeat could affect the Cearenses' confidence, and both the trip and the game at altitude certainly wore the players down. I'm betting on a Double Chance for Botafogo, an option that has attractive odds.