Athletico-PR beat Botafogo, close on Flamengo; Brasileirão 2026 table | OneFootball

With a win at Engenhão, Athletico-PR is one point behind Flamengo in the Brasileirão

For many fans, the Brasileirão title race comes down to Flamengo and Palmeiras. But one team is promising to come from the outside in this battle: Athletico-PR. This Monday (24), the Paraná side went to Engenhão and beat Botafogo 3-2. With the result, the Southern club climbed to 44 points, one behind Mengão.

It’s true that Athletico-PR has played 24 matches, compared to Flamengo’s 23, with the Rio club still owing the match against Mirassol from the fourth round of the Brasileirão. That game, in fact, will be played on September 2 at 7:30 p.m. (Brasília time) at the Maracanã.

WHAT DOES THE BRASILEIRÃO STANDINGS LOOK LIKE?

Competition table provided by Superscore

HOW DID BOTAFOGO X ATHLETICO GO, AFTER ALL?

Athletico-PR didn’t take long to put the game away, scoring twice in the span of two minutes. In the 11th minute, João Cruz pounced on a rebound from former Flamengo player Gabriel Batista and headed it into the back of the net. By the 13th minute, Viveros took advantage of a stolen ball in the attacking half and had no trouble extending the lead. The goal left the Colombian level with Flamengo’s Pedro at the top of the Brasileirão scoring charts, with 15 goals each.

Trailing on the scoreboard, Botafogo threw everything forward in search of an equalizer. Then Athletico-PR took advantage of the spaces left behind. In the 33rd minute of the second half, Viveros scored the visitors’ third, taking sole possession of the scoring lead. Finally, Santi Rodriguez pulled two back for Botafogo in the 40th and 46th minutes. 

WHAT IS BOTAFOGO’S NEXT MATCH?

In crisis, Botafogo returns to the field against Flamengo in the Brasileirão. The derby takes place next Sunday (30) at the Maracanã, starting at 4 p.m. (Brasília time). That way, Flamengo fans hope Leonardo Jardim’s team won’t slip up against sides in difficult situations, as happened recently against Internacional and São Paulo.

WHAT IS THE AUTHOR’S OPINION?

— What a roller coaster Botafogo has been. After a big win over Cruzeiro at Mineirão at the end of July, the team fell apart. They conceded six to Cienciano (PER), lost to Vitória and Athletico... Hopefully they make it three straight negative results against red-and-black teams —, said Pedro Paulo Catonho, journalist for Coluna do Fla.

— If Flamengo dreams of a tenth Brazilian title, they are obliged to beat Botafogo on Sunday. We know that in a derby everything evens out, but the crisis at the rival is serious and Flamengo needs to take advantage. With a full Maracanã, only one result matters —, he added.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.