TEAM NEWS
Botafogo already had midfielder Lizio returning from their medical department last weekend and their main doubtful for this round is whether or not they will count with defensive midfielder Airton, who is probably going to get fit in time for the game.
As for Santos, they have a good number of players coming back to the starting eleven. Not only that, but they are also some of their main names – playmaker Lucas Lima, striker Ricardo Oliveira and right back Victor Ferraz, who were all suspended for last
weekend.
MATCH PREVIEW
Botafogo have been playing so well since coach Jair Ventura took the job to replace Ricardo Gomes who left to Sao Paulo that they are not only far from the relegation zone but also getting close to the top four after beating Cruzeiro 2-0 away last weekend.
That was their third consecutive win in the Brasileiro, which is a lot different from what Santos had recently. Prior to last weekend they had lost three consecutive matches but at least now that ended this run with a 2-1 home win against Corinthians.
They saw the visitors score first but even without their main players they managed to score twice to win that match, which got them back in the fight for a place in the top four, being placed only one point behind them and a win in a derby like that can boost their morale and now that they will have midfielder Lucas Lima and striker Ricardo Oliveira back, Santos might get the high score win.
My recommendation is "HHAD Away win" for Santos.
HEAD TO HEAD
Santos won all last four matches against Botafogo, which includes a 3-2 away win back in 2014, but before that they had lost three consecutive games.
MATCH PREVIEW
Botafogo have been playing so well since coach Jair Ventura took the job to replace Ricardo Gomes who left to Sao Paulo that they are not only far from the relegation zone but also getting close to the top four after beating Cruzeiro 2-0 away last weekend.
That was their third consecutive win in the Brasileiro, which is a lot different from what Santos had recently. Prior to last weekend they had lost three consecutive matches but at least now that ended this run with a 2-1 home win against Corinthians.
They saw the visitors score first but even without their main players they managed to score twice to win that match, which got them back in the fight for a place in the top four, being placed only one point behind them and a win in a derby like that can boost their morale and now that they will have midfielder Lucas Lima and striker Ricardo Oliveira back, Santos might get the high score win.
My recommendation is "HHAD Away win" for Santos.
HEAD TO HEAD
Santos won all last four matches against Botafogo, which includes a 3-2 away win back in 2014, but before that they had lost three consecutive games.
