For the first time since the 2020 season, Sport Recife and Botafogo will meet in a Brasileiro Serie A fixture on Sunday at Ilha de Retiro in Pernambuco.

Recife remain at the bottom of the table following a 2-0 defeat versus Juventude the last time out, while Fogo dropped down to sixth with a 0-0 draw at home to Vitoria.

Match preview

A dozen matches into the 2025 top-flight campaign, and that elusive first victory for Sport Recife at times appears to be so close and yet at the same time so far.

On five occasions in the competition this season, they have lost by just a single goal, while they have also dropped eight points from a winning position heading into the second half.

Daniel Paulista’s men have netted just once in their previous five domestic fixtures, while only two of their league-low five goals scored have occurred on their home pitch.

Even though they have not shown much quality in the attacking third at home, they have collected a point in two of their previous three league contests played at Ilha de Retiro.

On the other hand, this team have yet to earn a single point this season against a side currently in a top-six position, losing by a single goal to Palmeiras (2-1) and Bragantino (1-0), while being blown out by the league leaders, Cruzeiro (4-0).

This weekend Leao will be seeking their first victory against Botafogo since the 2014 Serie A campaign when they came away with a 1-0 at home in July of that year.

The early days of Davide Ancelotti as manager of Fogo have yielded some strong defensive performances from this side, who have yet to concede a goal since his appointment.

Their away form in this competition, however, has set them back, as this team have dropped points in five top flight fixtures this year outside of Estadio Olimpico Nilton Santos.

They began the season without a goal in their first five league matches as the visitors but will enter this contest having won their previous two domestic affairs away from home, without a goal conceded in either game.

Currently, Botafogo are holding down the final Copa Libertadores qualifying position, although only two points currently separate them from Bahia and an automatic spot in the group stage of that tournament next year.

So far in 2025, the reigning Copa Libertadores winners have yet to drop a single point in league play when scoring the opening goal, conceding in only one of those six instances.

O Glorioso have won their last three league fixtures versus Recife, while going unbeaten in five successive away matches against them across all competitions.

Sport Recife Brasileiro form:

Sport Recife form (all competitions):

Botafogo Brasileiro form:

Botafogo form (all competitions):

Team News

In their defeat to Juventude on Monday, Recife were missing Pablo due to a calf strain, Diogo Hereda da Silva had a bone bruise, Ze Roberto was recovering from torn ligaments and Denis sat out because of a knee injury.

Only five players kept their place in the team's starting 11 from matchday 11 to 12 of this competition, Chico, Igor Carius, Lucas Lima, Ze Lucas and Chrystian Amaral Barletta de Almeida.

Earlier this week, Fogo played without Matheus Martins who was dealing with a sore hamstring, while Jeffinho and Bastos were sidelined with knee injuries.

John only had to make one stop against Vitoria on Wednesday, as the Botafogo keeper collected his second successive clean sheet of the domestic campaign.

Sport Recife possible starting lineup:

Franca; Alexandre, Thyere, Chico, Carius; Rivera, Lucas; Lima, Oliveira, Barletta; Paciencia

Botafogo possible starting lineup:

John; Vitinho, Kaio, Barboza, Telles; Gregore, Freitas; Rodriguez, Savarino, Montoro; Cabral

We say: Sport Recife 0-1 Botafogo

Ancelotti seems to have instilled some early confidence in this group, and we believe they will do enough to get past a side that have been in their share of close games this year but have rarely been decisive when in possession.  

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

Written by
Joel Lefevre

Previews by email