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Palmeiras vs Botafogo Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2025 FIFA Club World Cup | Round of 16

by Alex Lawes · June 25 2025, 17:06
Updated June 25 2025, 17:09
Palmeiras vs Botafogo Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2025 FIFA Club World Cup | Round of 16
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It is an all-Brazilian affair in the first round of 16 tie at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup as Botafogo take on Palmeiras at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia this weekend.

Kick-off date/time:

How to watch on TV & online: UK – DAZN & Channel 5 / US – DAZN

Palmeiras team news: Anibal Moreno out

Palmeiras are now without Anibal Moreno due to a thigh injury. They are expected to name an unchanged eleven, though, with the likes of Bruno Rodrigues and Figueiredo missing out on the initial tournament squad as a result of injury issues.

Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Weverton; Rocha, Gustavo Gomez, Murilo, Joaquin Piquerez; Richard Rios, Evangelista; Estevao, Veiga, Facundo Torres; Falco Lopez

Unavailable: Anibal Moreno (Injured)

Questionable: 

Botafogo team news: Gregore suspended

Ahead of their crucial knockout tie with Palmeiras, Botafogo are without midfielder Gregore, as he is unavailable due to suspension. They are also still without fellow midfielder, Jeffinho.

Predicted XI (4-3-3): John; Vitinho, Jair Cunha, Alexander Barboza, Telles; Allan, Danilo, Marlon Freitas; Artur, Igor Jesus, Jefferson Savarino

Unavailable: Gregore (Suspended), Jeffinho (Injured)

Questionable: 

Key stats

  • Brazilian sides Palmeiras and Botafogo are the first teams from the same country to meet at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
  • Botafogo are the reigning Brazilian champions, having succeeded Palmeiras, who won the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A in each of the two previous campaigns (2022, 2023) and were runners-up in 2024.
  • Botafogo are also the reigning South American champions, winning the CONMEBOL Libertadores for the first time in 2024. Palmeiras have lifted the trophy three times – in 1999, 2020 and 2021, the latter two under Abel Ferreira.
  • Botafogo are unbeaten in the last five competitive matches between these teams (W3 D2 L0). The last encounter was a 0-0 draw at Palmeiras in the Brazilian Série A on 30 March 2025.
  • Their most recent meeting in a knockout tie was in the round of 16 of the 2024 CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores when Botafogo advanced to the quarter-finals with a 4-3 victory on aggregate after a thrilling two-legged contest. Botafogo won 2-1 at home in the first leg and went 4-1 ahead on aggregate in the second leg before Palmeiras rallied with two late goals. Botafogo striker Igor Jesus found the net in both legs of that tie.
  • Palmeiras have lost only two of their last 13 fixtures in all competitions (W9 D2 L2).
  • Botafogo had won five successive competitive games prior to their 1-0 defeat against Atlético in their final contest in the group stage.
  • The clubs’ head coaches, Abel Ferreira of Palmeiras and Renato Paiva of Botafogo, are both Portuguese natives. Each started their coaching careers in the youth section of the two major Lisbon clubs – Ferreira at Sporting CP (for whom he also played), Paiva at Benfica.
  • Four members of the Botafogo squad have previously played for Palmeiras – Artur (2016-19, 2023), Patrick de Paula (2020-22), Danilo Barbosa (2021) and Arthur Cabral (2019/20).
  • Palmeiras’s Weverton and Estevão and Botafogo’s Alex Telles and Igor Jesus are international team-mates for Brazil.

Palmeiras vs Botafogo prediction

Under the management of Abel Ferreira, Palmeiras have turned themselves into one of the strongest teams in South America. They began their 2025 FIFA Club World Cup campaign with a goalless draw against Porto before a comfortable 2-0 win against Al Ahly. They finished with a 2-2 draw against Inter Miami, coming back from 2-0 down.

They now face a Botafogo side that, owned by John Textor, are often chaotic but entertaining. They won their opening two group stage games with a 2-1 win over the Seattle Sounders and then a surprise 1-0 victory over European champions Paris Saint-Germain. However, they did finish the group with a loss to Atletico Madrid.

Botafogo have been one of the surprise packages and have a lot of talent on the counter-attack, whilst Palmeiras appear the more well grooved side so Palmeiras winning in quite an entertaining encounter may well be the likely outcome.

Palmeiras vs Botafogo tip: Palmeiras to win & both teams to score

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