For the first time in over 60 years, Botafogo will feature in the Copa Libertadores semi-finals, hosting Penarol at Estadio Olimpico Nilton Santos on Wednesday in leg one of that tie.
Fogo were able to squeak past Sao Paulo in the last eight on penalties, while the Uruguayans defeated Flamengo 1-0 on aggregate in their tie.
Match preview
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It has been a long time coming for Botafogo supporters who will see their team feature in the Libertadores semi-finals for the first time since 1963.
Despite conceding an equaliser three minutes before the end of their second-leg tie versus Sao Paulo, the current Brasileiro Serie A leaders were able to hold their nerve in the shootout.
Artur Jorge's men are on a 12-match unbeaten run across all competitions, with their last defeat occurring in the Brazilian top-flight against Juventude in August (3-2).
Fogo are unbeaten in four successive home matches in this competition, winning on three of those occasions, while they have not lost in eight straight games at Estadio Olimpico Nilton Santos.
On Wednesday, they will be seeking their first-ever semi-final triumph at this tournament, playing to a 1-1 draw in their opening match at this stage with Santos in 1963 and losing leg two 4-0.
Estrella Solitaria have never lost a Libertadores match versus Uruguayan opposition, claiming a 4-1 victory in their only previous home fixture against Penarol in 1973.
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Some sound defensive performances over the past few months have enabled Penarol to make the semi-finals of this tournament for the first time since 2011.
Diego Aguirre's men have conceded a goal or fewer in each of their last six Libertadores affairs, while posting three clean sheets in four knockout fixtures.
Penarol are the first side from Uruguay to make the semi-finals of this tournament in over a decade, when Defensor Sporting were eliminated at this stage in 2014 against Club Nacional from Paraguay (2-1 on aggregate).
Manyas have won three successive competitive games without conceding, with all of those triumphs occurring in the Uruguayan top flight.
Four of their last five away matches across all competitions have ended with a victory for Penarol, including a 1-0 win at Flamengo in the quarter-finals, which enabled them to advance.
That victory away to Flamengo is only the second time Decano have won a match in Brazil in the knockout phase of this competition, with the first time being at Estadio Beira-Rio versus Internacional in 2011 (2-1).
Team News
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For this opening fixture, Botafogo may be without Rafael and Jeffinho, as both players are dealing with knee injuries and not expected to return until the end of October, while Gatito Fernandez will be suspended after receiving a straight red card in their second leg versus Sao Paulo.
Thiago Almada had their lone goal in that encounter, while John stopped one penalty in the shootout and saw another one hit the crossbar as his side were able to move on.
From leg one to leg two of their quarter-final affair with Flamengo, Penarol had the same starting 11, with Camilio Mayada being the only one who featured in the opening match of that tie to sit out of the return engagement.
Javier Cabrera's 13th-minute strike in leg one against Flamengo was all they would need to advance into the semi-finals, as Washington Aguerre now has three clean sheets in his last four Libertadores contests.
Botafogo possible starting lineup:
John; Vitinho, Bastos, Barboza, Telles; Gregore, Freitas; Martins, Savarino, Almada; Jesus
Penarol possible starting lineup:
Aguerre; Milans, Mendez, Rodriguez, Olivera; Garcia, Darias; Cabrera, Fernandez, Baez; Silvera
We say: Botafogo 1-0 Penarol
The Penarol backline will be difficult to penetrate, but Fogo are equally sharp on the back end, and we believe they will eventually find a way to score as they have throughout the campaign.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
