The first Grandpa Derby of the 2024 Brasileiro Serie A campaign will take place on Tuesday when Botafogo host Fluminense at Estadio Olimpico Nilton Santos.
At the beginning of this month, Fogo defeated Corinthians 1-0, moving them up to third in the table, while the defending Copa Libertadores champions are 15th following a 1-1 draw with Juventude.
Match preview
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Once again, Botafogo are in the mix for the Serie A title early on, currently just a point behind Flamengo for first in the table.
Since Artur Jorge was appointed manager in April, this team have won five of their last six matches in all competitions on home soil, with that lone defeat coming in league play against Bahia (2-1).
Their 13 goals scored are the joint-most in Serie A this season alongside Flamengo, while Fogo have found the back of the net in eight successive domestic affairs dating back to the previous campaign.
The only three times that they dropped points domestically this season occurred when they surrendered the opening goal.
On Tuesday, they are in danger of losing successive home fixtures in this competition for the first time since late October to early November 2023, when they suffered three successive top-flight defeats.
Fogo are unbeaten in their last five meetings with Fluminense in all competition, winning four successive encounters against them.
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Seven matches into the 2024 domestic campaign, Flu are still trying to find some consistency, with just six points thus far.
The new season is still relatively young, but the four-time top-flight champions are in early danger of falling into Serie B, currently just a point above the relegation line.
Fernando Diniz has yet to see his side collect a single point away from home in Serie A this year in three attempts despite scoring first on two of those occasions.
Missed opportunities have been a storyline for them early into this season, with Fluzao dropping 12 points from five league contests in 2024 when netting the opening goal.
To this point of the season, they have been rather disorganised on the back end, conceding the joint-second-most goals in the league thus far (13).
They have not earned maximum points in a Serie A away contest against Fogo since matchday 14 of the 2022 season, when they won 1-0.
Team News
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Rafael will likely be out of the Fogo lineup until mid-June with a knee issue, while numerous players, including Matheus Nascimento, Pablo, Jeffinho and Eduardo, could miss this encounter due to thigh injuries.
Marcal is dealing with a calf strain, which should keep him out of the lineup until the middle of the month, while Jefferson Savarino is currently on international duty with Venezuela.
A 59th-minute strike courtesy of Junior Santos was all they needed to defeat Corinthians, as John stopped seven shots for the clean sheet.
Fluzao were missing Lele and Andre in their match versus Juventude because of thigh injuries, with neither expected to return until the middle of June, while Thiago Silva is seeking his first appearance in the league since signing from Chelsea in May.
From matchday six to seven in the Brasileiro Serie A campaign, we saw five newcomers in their starting 11, with Marlon, Felipe Melo, Marcelo, Ganso and German Cano replacing Diogo Barbosa, Antonio Carlos, Manoel, Lima and Kaua Elias.
A 45th-minute penalty converted by Marcelo was all they could manage against Juventude, while Jhon Arias is still seeking his first goal in Serie A this year after netting nine times in 2023.
Botafogo possible starting lineup:
John; Suarez, Halter, Bastos, Cuiabano; Gregore, Freitas; Romero, Yarlen, Tche Tche; Santos
Fluminense possible starting lineup:
Fabio; Marquinhos, Marlon, Silva, Marcelo; Martinelli, Alexsander; Arias, Ganso, Elias; Cano
We say: Botafogo 1-0 Fluminense
Fogo have more than enough attacking pedigree to trouble the shaky Flu backline, while they are more than comfortable playing in tight games on their home ground.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
