English
Indian
العربية
Español
Deutsch
Türkçe
Русский
Français (Afrique)
Botafogo sit 17th in the Brasileirão and must beat Racing Club on 23 April to keep Sudamericana hopes alive. A thin squad still lacks a settled midfield, so the next four weeks could decide whether they fight for trophies or slide into a relegation scrap.
Botafogo are still searching for a midfield, and April might decide their whole year
Botafogo have played six weeks of the 2026 season and are already in trouble. After three defeats in their first four Brasileirão matches they sit 17th, three points above the relegation zone. They edged Mirassol 3‑2 on 1 April, then lost the Clássico da Amizade 2‑1 to Vasco on 5 April. A 0‑0 home draw with Independiente Petrolero left them third in their Sudamericana group, and on 23 April they must win at Racing Club in Avellaneda to stay in contention for the group top. Four days later the Copa do Brasil third‑round first leg against Chapecoense is scheduled. The squad is thin, and coach Artur Jorge has yet to identify a midfield partnership to replace the composure lost with Tchê Tchê’s departure last December.
Why the midfield hole keeps turning into goals at the other end
The club sold 19‑year‑old striker Matheus Martins to Wolverhampton for €18 million last summer and used part of that money to sign Uruguayan winger Luciano Rodríguez, who has three goals in seven starts and has displaced Jefferson Savarino from the bench. The upgrade did not solve the lack of a reliable link in front of the centre‑backs. Without Tchê Tchê, Marlon Freitas is forced to act as both destroyer and distributor, and opponents press him the instant he receives the ball. Botafogo have conceded in six consecutive matches across all competitions; defender Lucas Halter has been caught too high four times, leaving goalkeeper Gatito Fernández to face one‑on‑one situations more often than since his 2022 arrival.
The midfield hole keeps turning into goals at the other end.
Depth looks better on paper than on the pitch.
What Wednesday in Avellaneda really decides
In the Sudamericana, the eight group winners go straight to the round of 16 and avoid a knockout playoff against a Champions League dropout. Racing beat Liverpool in Montevideo on match‑day one, so a win in Avellaneda would put the Argentinians on six points and Botafogo on one. A draw would force Botafogo to travel to Bolivia on 28 April and then to Asunción in late May for the remaining group games. Artur Jorge has rotated six players at a time, but the starting XI still resembles a preseason trial. Against Chapecoense he started Tiquinho Soares alone up front and gave 20‑year‑old Lucas Campos his first start as the number 10; Botafogo held 72 % possession and had one shot on target before half‑time, but a counter‑attack that began with Freitas under no pressure produced the equaliser.
- 17th in Brasileirão after four matches, three defeats.
- Must win at Racing on 23 April to stay in Sudamericana contention.
- No adequate replacement for departed midfielder Tchê Tchê.
- Conceded in six straight matches across all competitions.
- Average squad age skews old up front and very young on the bench.
- Next four weeks include Sudamericana, Copa do Brasil and league fixtures.
Why the crowd booed a team that lifted the Libertadores eight months ago
Botafogo’s wage bill has doubled since 2022 and the squad is now valued higher than ever. While Palmeiras lead the league and Flamengo have already added the Supercopa, Botafogo sit 17th after only four league games, a position fans consider unacceptable. Last season’s fifth‑place finish came after a strong finish; this season the schedule is already heavier and the margin for error smaller. Beyond midfield, Savarino’s dip has removed a reliable source of late goals, and full‑backs are being asked to supply width, leaving Halter exposed. Tiquinho will turn 33 in June, suggesting the attack may need another addition before the July transfer window.
FAQ
- Why is Botafogo struggling after winning the Libertadores eight months ago?
- They sold holding midfielder Tchê Tchê in December and never replaced his composure, forcing Marlon Freitas to do two jobs. Opponents press him instantly, the defence is pushed too high and the team has conceded in six straight matches.
- What exactly is at stake in the Racing match?
- A loss would leave Botafogo on one point from two games and needing victories in Bolivia and Paraguay to escape the group. A win keeps direct passage to the round of 16 realistic and avoids a playoff against a Champions League dropout.
- How thin is the squad?
- Beyond the starters, coach Artur Jorge has either teenagers with under 500 senior minutes or veterans worn down by last year’s long Libertadores run. One more injury to Freitas or Halter would demand an untested youth player or a defensive reshuffle.
What the next four weeks will tell us
A win in Avellaneda followed by a victory over Chapecoense would give Botafogo momentum and a manageable path in the Sudamericana. Dropping points in either match could push the season toward a relegation battle before the Copa do Brasil fourth round begins. The coaching staff acknowledge that depth looks better on paper than on the pitch: backups are either teenagers with fewer than 500 senior minutes or veterans who logged heavy mileage in last year’s Libertadores. An additional injury to Freitas or Halter would force a choice between a 19‑year‑old from the under‑20 side or a reshuffle of the back line. Racing’s coach has warned his side will press high from the first whistle, hoping an early goal will force Botafogo to abandon their cautious 4‑2‑3‑1 shape and open space behind. If Artur Jorge cannot balance the midfield before month‑end, Botafogo risk watching the season’s biggest prizes from the outside.
- April results will shape whether Botafogo chase cups or battle relegation.
- Midfield rebuild failure is the root of six consecutive games conceding goals.
- Sudamericana group top spot is almost a must to ease schedule congestion.
- Squad depth looks better on paper than on the pitch.