Racing Club vs. Botafogo: Recopa Sudamericana final Predictions

For the first time in history, Racing Club and Botafogo will face off in the first leg of the Recopa Sudamericana final, which will take place on Thursday at Estadio Presidente Perón in Buenos Aires.

Racing earned their place in this prestigious clash after securing their first-ever Copa Sudamericana title last year with a 3-1 victory over Cruzeiro. At the same time, Botafogo triumphed in the Copa Libertadores, defeating Atlético Mineiro by the same scoreline.

Previous Matches and Head-to-head

It took over three decades, but Racing Club lifted an international trophy in 2024, marking their first since winning the Supercopa Libertadores in 1988.

Under the leadership of Gustavo Costas, the Argentine club dominated the Copa Sudamericana, with their impressive home form playing a key role. Racing won every match at Estadio Presidente Perón during their successful campaign.

However, Racing's recent domestic form is cause for concern. Racing has lost its last two Argentine Primera Division matches and failed to pick up points in three of its last four league fixtures.

Last weekend, they suffered their first home defeat of the 2025 Primera season, losing 3-2 to Argentinos Juniors. This loss came after two dominant home victories, where they scored six combined goals without conceding.

Their record against Brazilian opponents in continental competitions is strong. During last year's Sudamericana campaign, Racing eliminated four Brazilian clubs, winning all three home matches against them by a combined score of 9-2.

Thursday's clash marks Racing's first appearance in the Recopa Sudamericana since 1989 when they narrowly lost 1-0 on aggregate to Nacional from Uruguay.

Botafogo, meanwhile, finally won the Copa Libertadores trophy in 2024, a historic achievement that came shortly after they were crowned Brasileirão Série A champions.

Their journey to the Libertadores title was one of resilience. After losing their first two group-stage matches, Botafogo suffered one more defeat for the rest of the tournament, showcasing their ability to overcome adversity.

This season, they are led by Cláudio Caçapa, who took over after former head coach Arthur Jorge departed for Al-Rayyan in Qatar.

While Caçapa boasts an impressive playing career—having won six consecutive Ligue 1 titles with Lyon—his managerial record is less convincing. His previous stint at Belgian side Molenbeek ended in disappointment, with only seven wins from 29 matches before his departure in February 2024.

Botafogo's record in Argentina is not strong, having won only two cup matches in the country's history. Their most recent victory came at the 2023 Copa Sudamericana, where they defeated Patronato 2-0.

Like Racing, Botafogo will only make their second appearance in the Recopa Sudamericana. Their previous attempt ended in a 3-1 defeat to São Paulo in 1994.

Racing Club x Botafogo Team News

Racing Club will be without Adrián Martínez, who remains sidelined due to a muscle injury.

Martínez was the top scorer of the 2024 Sudamericana, finishing the tournament with 10 goals. He played a crucial role in Racing's final victory over Cruzeiro, finding the back of the net alongside Roger Martínez and Gastón Martirena.

On the other hand, Botafogo may be without Vitinho, who is dealing with a knee injury and remains doubtful about this encounter.

Last year's Libertadores title-winning squad was spearheaded by Luiz Henrique, Júnior Santos, and Alex Telles, though only Telles remains with the team.

Our Predictions

Racing Club to win @ 2.16 on Sky247.ng

Having already played several competitive matches this season, the Racing Club is expected to settle into the game more quickly and find its rhythm. Their strong home form and past success against Brazilian teams could give them the edge against a Botafogo side that has not faced top-level opposition in recent weeks.

While Fogo's defensive structure remains solid, Racing's intensity at home could be the decisive factor in this first-leg encounter.

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