Botafogo held by Cruzeiro, Fluminense eye Libertadores spot | OneFootball

The head-to-head match between Botafogo and Cruzeiro, held this Thursday at Mineirão, ended in a 2-2 draw, and the result was quite positive for Fluminense in the fight for a direct spot in the group stage of the Conmebol Libertadores.

With the draw, Botafogo reached 60 points, while Fluminense remains with 61, currently occupying the 5th position on the table. Thus, the Tricolor enters the last round depending only on its own strength to confirm its direct presence in the continental tournament.

The scenario is simple: if they beat Bahia on Sunday at 4 PM at Maracanã, Flu mathematically secures the spot, regardless of Botafogo's result in the last round against Fortaleza at Nilton Santos.

The duel gains even more weight because Bahia, with 60 points, is also still alive in the race. If Fluminense draws, they can still qualify, provided Botafogo does not win their final match.

Therefore, the last round places the Tricolor in front of a decisive afternoon at Maracanã, with a full house, control of their own destiny, and the opportunity to crown a comeback in the Brasileirão by securing a direct spot in the 2026 Libertadores.

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