Preview: Botafogo vs Vasco da Gama - prediction, team news, lineups

With a place in the semi-finals of the Copa do Brasil at stake, Botafogo welcome Vasco da Gama to Estadio Nilton Santos for the second leg of their tie on Thursday.

Last week, these teams settled for a 1-1 draw, leaving it all to play for in this upcoming fixture between the two rival clubs from Rio de Janeiro.

Match preview

Fogo got the start they wanted in leg one of this quarter-final matchup, but they could not maintain that advantage for long, conceding nine minutes after drawing first blood in minute eight.

Davide Ancelotti’s men enter this pivotal affair on a three-match unbeaten run across all competitions, winning two of those contests by a combined margin of 7-2.

This team is unbeaten in their last six Copa do Brasil matches played on home soil and have won two of their previous three competitive games at Estadio Nilton Santos.

Botafogo have not suffered a single defeat in 2025 when leading at the half, with two of those triumphs coming in the earlier rounds of this competition.

A victory on Thursday would send them to the Copa do Brasil semi-finals for the first time since 2017, when they erased a 1-0 deficit to Atletico Mineiro, winning the second leg at home 3-0.

O Glorioso have won three of their previous four home games versus Vasco across all competitions, defeating them 3-0 the last time they squared off at Estadio Nilton Santos in 2024.

The road to the last eight has been a grind for Vasco da Gama, but they have found a way to survive, despite experiencing plenty of nervy moments.

Disappointing opening legs have become a staple of this team, who failed to win leg one of their round three tie and did the same in the round of 16, both times against teams in lower divisions.

Fernando Diniz's team went on to win the second leg in each of those previous two instances and have won two of their last three away fixtures across all competitions.

While they showed plenty of character in the opening match against Fogo, this team have not come back to win a game when conceding the opening goal since a Brasileiro Serie A meeting with Santos in March (2-1).

In 10 previous quarter-final appearances at this tournament, this club have only suffered two second-leg defeats, though last year they were able to recover from a 2-1 normal time loss and defeat Atletico Paranaense on penalties.

Vasco have points in two of their previous three meetings with Fogo but have not beaten them on their home ground since the 2024 Campeonato Carioca (4-2).

Botafogo Copa do Brasil form:

Botafogo form (all competitions):

Vasco da Gama Copa do Brasil form:

Vasco da Gama form (all competitions):

Team News

Muscular problems could keep Philipe Sampaio out of the Botafogo lineup on Thursday, Chris Ramos is questionable with a head injury, Cuiabano has an ankle issue and Bastos may sit out due to a knee strain.

Arthur Cabral put his team in front in the early stages of leg one, the first of the tournament for the former Benfica forward who joined them in June.

Thigh issues forced Tche Tche out of the Vasco da Gama lineup last week, Thiago Mendes had a calf strain, Paulinho had a back problem and Adson was dealing with a broken tibia.

Jair put them on level terms in the 17th minute of that clash, his first goal of the 2025 competition, while Rayan is the joint top goalscorer at the Copa do Brasil, finding the back of the net four times.

Botafogo possible starting lineup:

Neto; Vitinho, Kaio, Barboza, Telles; Savarino, Danilo, M. Freitas, Martins; Mastriani, Cabral

Vasco da Gama possible starting lineup:

Jardim; Rodriguez, Moura, L. Freitas, Piton; Estrella, Jair; Rayan, Coutinho, Gomez; Vegetti

We say: Botafogo 1-0 Vasco da Gama

Fogo have shown a lot more composure and perseverance since Ancelotti took charge, and we believe their newfound confidence and attacking depth will eventually find a breakthrough.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.