Botafogo v Santos: mid-table push meets away-day test | OneFootball

Botafogo host Santos in the Brasileirão on Thursday, 16 July 2026 at Nilton Santos, with the hosts aiming to climb from mid-table and the visitors looking to ease relegation worries after a mixed first half of the campaign.

Botafogo and Santos have shared tight recent meetings, including a 2-2 draw in Rio in 2025. The hosts sit 12th on 22 points from 17 games, while the visitors are 15th with 21 from 18.

Form points to a cagey contest. Fogão have one league win in their last five, drawing at São Paulo and losing narrowly at Bahia. Peixe have won at home to RB Bragantino and Vitória, but their away record remains a concern with no victories on the road this season.

Selection could matter. Botafogo are without Júnior Santos and Allan through injury, while Álvaro Montoro is suspended. Santos travel minus Gabriel Barbosa through suspension, with João Felipe Schmidt Urbano and Moisés sidelined.

The match-up may hinge on defensive discipline. Glorioso have scored 31 and conceded 31 in 17 league outings, so chances usually come at both ends. Alvinegro Praiano have shipped 17 away goals and are yet to win on their travels, so set pieces and quick wide deliveries could be a route for the hosts.

A win would lift Fogão to 25 points and could move them towards the Sudamericana spots. Three points for Peixe would take them to 24 and may pull them further from the relegation places.