Atletico Madrid vs Botafogo Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2025 FIFA Club World Cup | Group Stage
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Atletico Madrid head into what is a must win clash against an impressive Botafogo side as they search for qualification to the knockout stages of the FIFA Club World Cup.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV & online: UK – DAZN & Channel 5 / US – DAZN
Atletico Madrid team news: The Sorloth conundrum
Alexander Sorloth finished the season well for Atletico and complained about a lack of starts, which is something Diego Simeone appeared to dismiss. He did come into the eleven against the Seattle Sounders but his performance was again underwhelming.
Predicted XI (4-4-2): Oblak; Marcos Llorente, Jose Maria Gimenez, Le Normand, Javi Galan; Giuliano Simeone, De Paul, Koke, Pablo Barrios; Sorloth, Julian Alvarez
Unavailable:
Questionable:
Botafogo team news: Still no Jeffinho
Matheus Martins has returned to full fitness for Botafogo, but fellow attacking midfielder Jeffinho remains sidelined. They will likely name an unchanged eleven with Nottingham Forest-bound Jair Cunha and Igor Jesus forming a key part of their side.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): John; Vitinho, Jair Cunha, Alexander Barboza, Telles; Allan, Gregore, Freitas; Artur, Igor Jesus, Jefferson Savarino
Unavailable: Jeffinho (Injured)
Questionable:
Key stats
- Atlético have won five of their last eight matches in all competitions (W5 D1 L2).
- Atlético have registered at least three goals in five of their last ten matches in all competitions.
- Botafogo have won their last five competitive matches and kept three clean sheets during that time.
- Igor Jesus has scored five goals in his last seven appearances for Botafogo in all competitions.
- Against Seattle, Atleti’s Pablo Barrios became the first Spanish player to get his name on the scoresheet twice in a FIFA Club World Cup™ match. At the age of 22 years and four days, he also became the youngest player to score twice in a FIFA Club World Cup™ fixture.
- Botafogo’s Joaquín Correa played six times against Atlético when he was a Sevilla player for two seasons (2016/17 and 2017/18). He scored in two of those matches.
- Botafogo’s Danilo Barbosa featured twice against Atlético when he was on loan at Valencia in the 2015/16 season.
- Botafogo’s Brazil international Alex Telles spent the 2022/23 season in Spain at Sevilla, with whom he won the UEFA Europa League. He was a substitute in a 6-1 La Liga defeat away to Atlético in March 2023. Telles was also in the Manchester United side that lost to Atlético in the 2021/22 UEFA Champions League round of 16, appearing as a substitute in the first leg in Madrid (1-1) and starting the second leg at Old Trafford (0-1).
Atletico Madrid vs Botafogo prediction
Diego Simeone is under a bit of pressure to try and evolve this Atletico Madrid side. They have a chance of knockout qualification his week, despite their 4-0 hammering at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain in their opening game. They managed to defeat Seattle Sounders by three goals to one in what was a fairly hard-fought affair.
They now face a Botafogo side that, as part of the John Textor ownership group, have surprised many to head into the final two games with a 100% record. They began with a 2-1 defeat of Seattle in their opener before then edging past European champions PSG in a shock win the other day, thanks to an Igor Jesus winner.
Atletico have tried to play a slightly more attacking style of football, but that may help Botafogo on the counter attack so both teams scoring would appear a good bet.
Atletico Madrid vs Botafogo tip: Both teams to score
