Date: Saturday 8th August 2009 at 6.30pm (local time)
Venue: Estadio Olimpico Joao Havelange (The Engenhao), in Rio de Janeiro
BOTAFOGO
Prior to Thursday nights loss with Sao Paulo, Botafogo were on an unbeaten 7 game roll, don’t froth at the mouth too much though as 4 from that roll were draws. However, most of their draws have been away and today they face a team in Atletico PR who have won only 2 games from the last 7.
Sao Paulo beat the “Big Fire” (Fogao) 3-1, Thursday, hardly surprising as I said a couple previews ago, Sao Paulo will be climbing the league faster than Jacob climbed his ladder - so that loss won’t be held against them, besides, Big Fire hasn’t won at Morumbi since 1998.
ATLETICO PR
Before Thursday night’s 0-2 win at Cruzeiro, Atletico had only won 1 game from 6 – the win would have for sure injected some confidence into for the most part a struggling team. We musn’t however get swept away by the victory, it was after all against an extraordinary low moral Cruzeiro who are languishing around the drop zone. It was a scrappy affair with 3 red cards and as usual of late, the Cruz dominated early play to falter big time not only in play but with discipline too.
STATS (Serie A 2009)
BOTAFOGO
LEAGUE POSITION: 13th/20
Games played: 16
Wins: 4
Losses: 5
Draws: 7
Away Wins: 1
Home Wins: 3
Red Cards: 2
Yellow Cards: 40
Goals Scored:24 (from 226 shots/headers on target)
Goals Conceded: 28
Passing Errors: 40.44%
ATLETICO PR
LEAGUE POSITION: 14th/20
Games played: 17
Wins: 5
Losses: 3
Draws: 9
Away Wins: 2
Home Wins: 3
Red Cards: 4
Yellow Cards: 54
Goals Scored: 17 (from 140 shots/headers on target)
Goals Conceded: 29
Passing Errors: 28.76%
VERDICT:
We couldn’t put our shirt on any of these, but Botafogo are favourites and deservedly so.
Despite Atletico winning both August games it’s pushing the boat to expect a 3rd consecutive victory. Not only that, a quick look back at their few wins this year were against either teams in the doldrums or teams that were at the time, struggling.
I had started to research this preview before Thursday nights games and had all along been favouring Big Fire, and I still believe they will win this. But Prudence has been ringing in my ears “cover the draw” , “cover the draw”. Not forgetting Prudence has a valid point as this season Botafogo have drawn 7 from 16 and Atletico have drawn 9 from 17.
Now either I have developed schizophrenia or it’s my aversion to giving the sports books an easy ride kicking in. Either way, a 1-1 correct score draw cover is in order! (Just enough to cover stake and some).
It’s BOTAFOGO straight-up at 1.62 or better! (1-1 correct score cover).
For more info on Brazilian football teams, previous previews, World Cup 2014 and more, check out this Brazilian Football Site , it’s got tons of Brazilian soccer stuff and all in English too.
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