Vasco da Gama v Botafogo: top-half push meets recovery bid | OneFootball

Vasco da Gama host Botafogo in the Brasileirão on Sunday, 5 April 2026 at São Januário, with the hosts chasing a sustained top half presence and the visitors looking to steady an up-and-down start.

Vasco da Gama sit eighth on 12 points from nine games, while Botafogo are 15th with nine from eight. The hosts also won the most recent meeting between the sides, beating their rivals 2-0 in February in the Carioca.

Vasco are unbeaten in five league matches, including home wins over Palmeiras and Grêmio and a derby success against Fluminense. Glorioso have lost three of their past five, but did win away at RB Bragantino and edged Mirassol 3-2 last time out.

Vasco miss Jair, Brenner and Mateus Carvalho through injury. For Botafogo, Fernando Marçal, Joaquín Correa, Kaio Fernando Da Silva Pantaleao and Chris Ramos are sidelined.

Gigante da Colina have taken 10 home points from five and scored eight times at São Januário, so the hosts may look to lean on that foundation. Fogão's away record has been porous, with 13 goals conceded on the road, and their matches have been high scoring overall, with 14 scored and 18 shipped.

A win would lift Vascão to 15 points and could nudge them closer to the upper spots while strengthening their Sudamericana push. Victory for Glorioso would move them to 12 points and may pull them further from the relegation picture into mid table.