This weekend in the Brazilian Serie A we have a meeting between Botafogo and Vasco da Gama in the Clássico Alvinegro.
The match will be played on the 2nd of July at the Estádio Nilton Santos and the hosts are currently top of the league on 30 points while the visitors are in 18th place on 9 points.
Botafogo come into the game on the back of a 1-1 draw at home with Magallanes in the Copa Sudamericana. Botafogo opened the scoring in the 19th minute but having had a man sent off in the 67th minute, Magallanes equalised late in the match to take a point. The result did not prevent Botafogo from progressing out of the group.
The draw with Magallanes means Botafogo are undefeated in each of their last 5 fixtures in all competitions. There have been wins over Cuiabá and Palmeiras away plus Fortaleza at home in Serie A and a draw away at LDU Quito in the Copa Sudamericana.
Trends show Botafogo are undefeated in 10 of their last 12 Serie A games. They have been strong when playing at home in the league and Botafogo have won their last 7 home games in Serie A.
Botafogo have scored 2 or more goals in 6 of those 7 fixtures and have kept a clean sheet in each of their last 5 home league matches.
Vasco da Gama make the trip to the Estádio Nilton Santos having defeated Cuiabá 1-0 at home in their most recent game which was in Serie A.
The only goal of the match was scored in the 77th minute from the penalty spot but the victory was not enough to move Vasco da Gama out of the relegation zone.
The win over Cuiabá was the first victory for Vasco da Gama in 11 attempts in the league. They have lost 7 of their 8 most recent fixtures with the defeats coming at home against Santos, Flamengo, and Goiás plus away to São Paulo, Fortaleza, and Internacional.
Trends show Vasco da Gama have lost their last 3 away Serie A games. They have failed to win any of their last 5 league matches on the road and have recorded just a single victory in their last 15 away trips.
Vasco da Gama have managed to find the back of the net in 5 of their last 6 away Serie A maches.
Team news and Botafogo are without the injured trio of Lucas Fernandes, Gabriel Pires, and Fernando Marcal.
Vasco da Gama have four players in the treatment room with Cauan Barros, Manuel Capasso, Gabriel Dias, and Riquelme all unavailable for this game.
Derby matches are often tight and that could be the case in the Clássico Alvinegro this weekend.
Despite being at opposite ends of the table, Vasco da Gama could make life difficult for Botafogo but we expect to the hosts to come through with a single goal margin of victory and both teams scoring.