In search of an unprecedented title, the Botafogo faces Racing-ARG this Thursday (02/20)at 21h30 (Brasília time), for the first leg of the South American Recopa 2025. The match takes place at the Presidente Perón stadium, Casa do Racing, Avellaneda, and will have transmission of ESPN and Disney+.
Botafogo joined the dispute over last year’s Libertadores title. Racing won the place for being the champion of the South American 2024.
Botafogo was once vice of the competition in 1994. Glorioso entered the dispute as champion of the 1993 Conmebol Cup and was defeated by Sao Paulo 3-1, in a single game in Japan.
Now the decision happens in two games. The second duel will be on the 27th, in Rio de Janeiro, at Nilton Santos Stadium.
Botafogo lineup against Racing
Botafogo will be led by interim Claudio Caçapa, who was announced by the club on the 13th, replacing the interim Carlos Leiria.
The club wants Portuguese coach Vasco Matos, from Santa Clara-Por, but has not yet realized the hiring because of the coach’s license is not valid by Conmebol. The glorious tries to make the entity a flexibility to complete the business.
About the team, there are embezzlement. The Gregore midfielder is suspended due to the expulsion in the Libertadores 2024 final. Other casualties are defender Bastos, with left knee injury, and striker Jeffinho, also injured.
Who also does not play is the reinforcement Santiago Rodríguez. The Uruguayan midfielder, hired from the New York City FC, has not yet been regularized.
Already defender Jair and striker Nathan Fernandes managed to be registered and can debut with the shirt of Botafogo.
Finally, striker Arthur has recovered from muscle injury to his left thigh and will be related.
Probable Botafogo lineup: John; Vitinho, Barboza, Jair (David Ricardo), Alex Telles; Allan, Marlon Freitas, Savarino; Artur, Matheus Martins and Igor Jesus. Technical: Claudio Caçapa.
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Racing x Botafogo: time and where to watch
- South American Recopa 2025 – Game
- Data: Thursday, February 20, 2025
- Time: 9:30 pm (from Brasilia)
- Transmission: ESPN (pay TV) and Disney+ (streaming)
MORE: The best VPNs to see live sports
Botafogo moment
Botafogo’s trajectory in the year, so far, has been complicated. The club has not yet been able to announce a coach and received negatives from André Jardine and Rafa Benítez on the way. To make matters worse, the interim Carlos Leiria did neither the cast A nor the cast B surrender, being removed.
Alvinegro used a cast B in the first five rounds of Carioca. The scaled team showed little. On January 29, the holders debuted and beat Fluminense 2-1, in performance that left the fans excited.
However, in the next game, came the bucket of cold water. Defeat for Flamengo 3-1 at Brazil Super Cup and lost title. Four days later, the holders returned to the field and played badly against Nova Iguaçu, for the carioca, but managed to win 1-0.
Following, the reserves lost to Madureira 2-0 and the holders again took the worst against Flamengo, 1-0, now in Carioca. Carlos Leiria was removed a day later and the club announced the return of Claudio Caçapa to be the new interim.
In the latest commitment in the year, Botafogo, with reserves, drew with Boavista 1-1, in Carioca. Alvinegro is in sixth place in the state, with only one round to the end of the first phase. The missing game is against Vasco in São Januário, but before the focus turned to the first duel of Recopa South American.
Botafogo’s latest games: results
- 02/15 – Boavista 1 x 1 Botafogo – Carioca Championship
- 12/02 – Flamengo 1 x 0 Botafogo – Carioca Championship
- 09/02 – Botafogo 0 x 2 Madureira – Championship Carioca
- 06/02 – Nova Iguaçu 0 x 1 Botafogo – Championship Carioca
- 02/02 – Botafogo 1 x 3 Flamengo – Super Cup do Brasil
Next Botafogo Games
- 02/20 – Racing x Botafogo – 9:30 pm (Brasília) – South American Recopa
- 23/02 – Vasco x Botafogo – 16h (from Brasilia) – Carioca Championship
- 27/02 – Botafogo x Racing – 21h30 (Brasília) – Recopa South American
- 03/29 – Palmeiras x Botafogo – Time to be defined – Brazilian Championship
- 04/05 – Botafogo x Youth – time to define – Brazilian Championship
Botafogo’s classification in the season
- Carioca Championship: 6th place (13 points in ten games)
- Super Cup do Brasil: Vice
