Preview: Botafogo vs Athletico Paranaense - prediction, team news, lineups

Botafogo will be looking to return to winning ways when they welcome Athletico Paranaense to the Estadio Nilton Santos on Monday for round 24 of the 2026 Brasileiro.

The hosts will be seeking a response in front of their own supporters, while Athletico-PR arrive in good form and will be aiming to collect another three points on the road.

Match preview

Botafogo take to the field on Monday looking for a reaction. The side sit 11th in the Brazilian Championship on 30 points, from a campaign of eight wins, six draws and eight defeats, having also lost their last two matches. As hosts, they have taken 16 points from a possible 30, with four wins, four draws and two defeats, scoring 18 goals and conceding 14.

The attacking sector has been the main headache for the Glorioso. Over the last five matches, Botafogo have scored just four goals, while Arthur Cabral, their leading attacking reference, has nine goals for the season and is going through a nine-match drought. Suspended after picking up a red card against Vitoria, the forward will miss the match.

As a result, the club's management is reshuffling the attack. Botafogo have agreed a deal with Dinamo Moscow to sell Matheus Martins for £6m, though the player is still negotiating salary terms and has made a counter-proposal. He remains available to face Athletico.

Rodrigo Bellao, interim coach since the departure of the Portuguese manager, is back in charge of the team. Following elimination to Cienciano in the Sudamericana, the Brasileirao has become the club's sole objective for the season. In the transfer market, Santi Rodriguez is close to joining Columbus Crew, while Tiquinho Soares is being lined up as a possible signing.

Athletico-PR, on the other hand, find themselves in a very different situation. On 41 points, the Furacao sit third and occupy a direct Libertadores qualification spot. Recently promoted from the Serie B, the side have 12 wins, five draws and six defeats.

Their good form is reflected in their recent run: eight matches unbeaten, with five wins and three draws. Their last defeat came in May, against Vasco in Rio de Janeiro. Since then, Athletico have also grown stronger as visitors.

In their last four away matches, the Furacao have taken three wins and a draw. In their most recent game away from home, they beat Santos 2-0 at the Vila Belmiro. The result boosted the team's confidence ahead of the meeting at the Nilton Santos.

Behind the scenes, Athletico are also working to secure the future of Odair Hellmann. The club is already in talks over renewing the coach's contract, which runs until December 2026. Odair joined in 2025, while the side were still in the Serie B, and remains involved in the club's planning for 2027.

Botafogo Brasileiro form:

Botafogo form (all competitions):

Athletico Paranaense Brasileiro form:

Athletico Paranaense form (all competitions):

Team News

Interim coach Rodrigo Bellao will be without five players for the meeting with Athletico-PR on Monday. Centre-back Kaio Pantaleao is out with a cruciate ligament injury; left-back Paulinho is recovering from a thigh injury; attacking midfielder Jordan Barrera has an ankle problem; and goalkeeper Warleson suffered a head injury. In addition, Arthur Cabral will not play, having been sent off in the last round and now serving an automatic suspension.

Bellao also has concerns over the high number of players who are one booking away from suspension. Nahuel Ferraresi, Junior Santos, Gabriel Justino, Kadir, Lucas Villalba and Edenilson are all in that situation.

Odair Hellmann will have centre-back Teran back among those called up. Goalkeeper Santos, who missed two days of training with knee pain, has returned to normal training and will be assessed until Sunday, when the squad travels to Rio de Janeiro. He is expected to be available for the match at the Nilton Santos.

The confirmed absentees are left-backs Esquivel, who is dealing with a more delicate ankle injury, and Claudinho, who suffered a muscle injury in his thigh. In defence, Odair Hellmann could opt to start Teran in place of Benavidez, or keep the same back line with Aguirre and Arthur Dias. Felipinho, Joao Cruz, Jadson and Gaston Benavidez are also one booking away from suspension.

Botafogo possible starting lineup:

Gabriel Batista; Vitinho, Ferraresi, Justino and Alex Telles; Huguinho, Medina, Matheus Martins, Montoro and Danilo Santos; Danilo Pereira. Coach: Rodrigo Bellao (interim).

Athletico Paranaense possible starting lineup:

Santos; Benavidez (Teran), Aguirre and Arthur Dias; Jadson, Luiz Gustavo, Gilberto, Mendoza, Leozinho and Joao Cruz; Viveros. Coach: Odair Hellmann.

We say: Botafogo 0-1 Athletico Paranaense

Athletico-PR head into the contest as the favourites after an impressive campaign and an eight-match unbeaten run in the Brasileiro, while conceding just twice across their last five league matches points towards another disciplined defensive display.

Botafogo are under pressure following their Copa Sudamericana elimination and have struggled for goals, scoring just four times in their last five league outings, while the suspension of Arthur Cabral further weakens their attacking options.

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