In the early hours of Thursday, Botafogo and Patronato clash at the Estadio Nilton Santos in the Copa Sudamericana last-32 second leg. The Brazilian outfit goes into this game on the back of a 2-0 victory.
Botafogo form guideBruno Lage’s team has been in excellent form this season, as they are currently 12 points clear at the top of Serie A. A 2-0 home win over RB Bragantino last time out made the home team nine games unbeaten. The win also meant that Botafogo have won four straight games.
Their recent good form extends to the Copa Sudamericana, as Botafogo are unbeaten in seven games in the competition. A key factor in their recent form has been decent defensive displays, as they have kept four clean sheets in their last six matches.
Botafogo have lost just one of their last six home matches in the Copa Sudamericana, including mounting a three-game unbeaten run.
Patronato form guideA 1-0 home win over Gimnasia Mendoza last time out ended a short two-game losing streak for the Argentinian top flight. In fact, their recent results can only be defined as inconsistent, as they have won four and lost four of their previous eight matches in all competitions.
Their recent matches have been low-scoring, with under 2.5 goals scored in seven of their last nine games.
This tie is Patronato’s first tie in the Copa Sudamericana. In fact, they had neither featured in any continental competition until this season, when they featured in the Copa Libertadores.
The Argentinian team struggled in the continent’s elite tournament, losing four of their six games in the group, keeping just one clean sheet in the competition.
What am I backing?Botafogo has been impressive of late, and I can’t see anything but a home victory in this clash. Therefore, I am backing the home victory.
