Palmeiras vs Botafogo: Club World Cup Match Preview, Odds & Predictions

Palmeiras and Botafogo will square off on Saturday in a Club World Cup matchup that will determine the first team to advance to the quarterfinals.

The Sao Paulo giants will face off against their Rio rivals in a last-16 match in Philadelphia.

Previous Matches and Head-to-head

Palmeiras secured first place in Group A and advanced to the round of 16 without a loss after a 2-2 draw with Inter Miami. The CONMEBOL team scored twice in the last ten tries, with Paulinho and Mauricio scoring twice from six shots on goal. Palmeiras had a scoreless start against Porto, but with five points, they surpassed Miami for first place on the basis of goal differential. The Verdao, led by Abel Ferreira, is leading a South American charge into the quarterfinals.

The Verdao will face Vasco da Gama in the 2000 final, the only other all-Brazilian matchup in FIFA's premier championship. Last year, Botafogo deposed Palmeiras as the winner of the Campeonato Brasileiro. The first game of the season ended in an exciting 0-0 tie with 26 shots, and spectators may expect a similar level of play this weekend.

Renato Paiva's squad has been more talked about than any of its local competitors in this international competition, thanks in large part to their historic victory against the undefeated Paris Saint-Germain. The Alvinegro won Group B on goal differential, meaning they will face familiar opponents in the knockout round after losing 1-0 in Pasadena.

The quarterfinal match on Saturday will also be played at Lincoln Financial Field, with both Benfica and Chelsea hoping to prolong their stay in Philadelphia by awaiting the victor of Saturday's match.

Palmeiras vs Botafogo Team News

Anibal Romero has returned to training with Palmeiras, but defender Murilo may not play in the Club World Cup due to a thigh injury. Gustavo Gomez, Bruno Fuchs, and Micael are potential central defensive partners, while Romero is in Verdao's engine room as a possible starting option. Abel Ferreira has not changed his team's roster, so most players should be recognizable faces. Felipe Anderson will sit on the bench due to adolescent revelation Estevao, who may face Chelsea in the quarterfinals.

Botafogo will focus on Igor Jesus, while São Paulo will have Vitor Roque and José Manuel López in their front-line competition. Jesus was heavily linked with a transfer to Nottingham Forest after the tournament, scoring twice for Fogo in the group stage and leading the team in attempts, shots on goal, and touches inside the opposing area.

Allan, Gregore, and captain Marlon Freitas start in the middle of the field, while Jesus should play in the final third with Artur and Jefferson Savarino. Fullback Vitinho is good to go after being substituted due to a thigh injury against Atleti, but Bastos will miss the game with a knee injury.

Botafogo and Palmeiras will meet again after pivotal matches in 2023 and 2024. Botafogo has a better record than Palmeiras in the Club World Cup so far, with Igor Jesus making a reputation for himself in the competition. Estevao has not performed well for Palmeiras this season despite being seen as a potential future star of Brazilian football.

Our Predictions

Botafogo to win @.3.30 on Sky247.ng

Although Palmeiras has gotten out to a stronger start in the 2025 Brasileiro, Botafogo has been the most impressive team in the Club World Cup thus far.

Renato Paiva may have the upper hand in a showdown between the two Portuguese CEOs in the United States after their previous meeting ended in a tight scoreless tie.

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