Preview: Botafogo vs. Avai - prediction, team news, lineups

Both sides who were promoted into the top-flight last year are in danger of heading back down into Serie B as Fogo are just a point above Cuiaba in the final relegation position, while Avai are only ahead of Dourado because they have scored a few more goals.

Match preview

Since the start of the new domestic campaign, Botafogo have competed hard and been in their share of tight matches, with six of their nine encounters being decided by a goal or fewer.

On Thursday, Luis Castro's men put on perhaps their worst display of the year, conceding four goals to the league leaders Palmeiras, extending their winless run to four straight games in this competition.

A club with a rich history steeped in tradition have made it their mission to retain possession at all costs, aiming to dominate their opponents with pace, according to its new principal owner and American businessman, John Textor.

Even though they have succeeded in having the ball for long stretches, Fogo have failed to do much while in possession lately, scoring a goal or fewer in each of their last four league games.

The club have stressed the importance of remaining calm and composed on and off the field, a sharp contrast from what we are used to seeing in Brazilian football, in a league based primarily on frenetic and quick decisions from both the players and the front office.

Botafogo have often paid the price for being so patient, while hanging back too deep in their defensive zone, allowing their share of scoring opportunities, and conceding the second-most goals in the Brasileiro Serie A so far this year (15).

Following a two-year hiatus from top-flight football in Brazil, Avai are at the moment just trying to keep their head above water, winless in five consecutive Serie A encounters.

It has been over a decade since this team have been able to stay in the first tier for more than one year, and the margin between themselves and relegation is about as thin as can be.

More often than not, they have had to play catch up, which does not usually end well for Time da Raca, who have lost every one of their matches this year in which they have conceded first.

Avai appear to get frustrated, while struggling with discipline when trailing, and they are taking that frustration out on their opponents, receiving a red card in two of their last three games.

All of Avai's points to date have come versus teams in the top half of the table, which should give them a little encouragement going forward.

Even though we are only about a third of the way through the season, Eduardo Barroca knows that the next week could pay huge dividends for his side in their battle to put some distance between themselves and relegation.

In seven days, beginning on Monday, they face two teams who are a mere three points ahead of them in the table (Botafogo and Fluminense), with a home date against last-place Fortaleza, in between.

Botafogo Brasileiro form:

Botafogo form (all competitions):

Avai Brasileiro form:

Team News

Erison, who has five goals domestically this season for Botafogo, has not tallied in his last three games, while Victor Cuesta notched his first of the campaign in their previous home fixture, putting him one back of Diego for second place.

Daniel Borges has two assists to lead them in that category this season, while Gatito Fernandez had a challenging outing in goal on Thursday, conceding four times on six efforts on target.

Diego Goncalves is out until late June with a thigh issue, Gustavo Sauer continues to be hampered with an ankle problem and Philipe Sampaio could miss another encounter because of a knee injury.

Avai will be without Diego Matos on Monday due to a red card suspension, Jean Pyerre and Bressan are out with thigh injuries and Matheus Galdezani has struggled to recover from his knee issues.

Bissoli leads Avai in scoring with four goals domestically to this point of the season, while Kevin picked up his first assist of 2022 in their 2-1 defeat at Atletico Goianiense.

On Wednesday, we saw Douglas get the start in goal, replacing Vladimir, while Matos, Jean Cleber and William Pottker replaced Rodrigo Freitas, Arthur Chaves and Morato in the starting 11.

Botafogo possible starting lineup:

Fernandez; Borges, Cuesta, Kanu, Rafael; Kayque; Hugo, Fernandes, Tche Tche, Sa; Erison

Avai possible starting lineup:

Douglas; Cougo, Freitas, Raniele, Kevin; Eduardo, Silva, Morato; Romulo, Bissoli, Pottker

We say: Botafogo 1-1 Avai

These teams are virtually level pegging to this point of the season, having conceded the same amount of goals (15), while Fogo have scored 12 times, which is only one more than Avai.

They both tend to hang back deep in their end, waiting for an opportunity to strike, and given how timid they are, we anticipate this contest will be a standstill with a pair of sides relatively low on confidence right now.

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