Current title contenders Sao Paulo have a chance to capture their first road victory of this Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A campaign when they head to Estadio Olimpico Nilton Santos to face relegation-threatened Botafogo on Thursday. Fogo are winless in their previous five domestic encounters, while Tricolor Paulista have points in nine straight league contests and are sitting in third.
Match preview
At the moment, times are tough for the newly-promoted club from Rio, who have dropped four consecutive matches, sliding down into the final relegation position with 12 points. Losing to the likes of Palmeiras can be understood, given their talent and top-flight experience, but Botafogo have failed to earn any points versus teams near them in the table, as three of their last four defeats have come against sides who were with them in Serie B a season ago (Coritiba, Goias and Avai).
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Sao Paulo Brasileiro form:
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Sao Paulo form (all competitions):
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Team News
Botafogo made two changes to their starting 11 against Avai on Monday, with Chay and Erison drawing into the squad in place of Lucas Fernandes and Renzo Sara via. The team seems to be missing the presence of a solid number nine since their top goalscorer in Serie B last season, Rafael Navarro, moved to Palmeiras.
Patrick notched his first domestically for Sao Paulo on Sunday, while Jandrei stopped five shots, collecting his second clean sheet of the 2022 Brasileiro season. After Calleri, Luciano is their next highest goalscorer, with three, well back of the Argentine, who leads the league with nine, while Eder, Rodrigo Nestor and Reinaldo all have one. Alisson remains sidelined with a sprained knee, while Nikao and Gabriel Sara are still recovering from ankle injuries.
Botafogo possible starting lineup:
Fernandez; Saravia, Kanu, Cuesta, Hugo; Oyama, Chay; Lopes, Del Piage, Sa; Erison
Sao Paulo possible starting lineup:
Jandrei; Maia, Miranda, Leo; Luan; Nestor, Gomes, Reinaldo, Rafinha; Calleri, Luciano