Palmeiras vs Botafogo Prediction and Betting Tips: Best Bets for Libertadores clash in Sao Paulo
The all-Brazilian Copa Libertadores tussle of Palmeiras and Botafogo is set to conclude in the early hours of Thursday morning as the host bids to turn around a first leg loss back on home soil in Sao Paulo. Find our best bets below.
Palmeiras vs Botafogo Predictions
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The current Brasileiro Serie A leaders earned their advantage courtesy of Igor Jesus' clinical finish in the first half, Mauricio having cancelled out the early opener from Luiz Henrique for the home side.
It should be another high intensity clash as Botafogo look to end a seven-year wait for their return to the Copa Libertadores quarter-finals.
There was little to split these teams in the first leg and this decisive game in Sao Paulo could be another nail-biter.
Palmeiras are aiming for a seventh successive appearance in the quarter-finals of the Copa Libertadores, while Botafogo are within touching distance of scratching their own seven-year itch since they last played in the last-eight of this competition.
Botafogo finished second in Group D with three wins, a draw and two losses from their six matches but they went into the first leg off the back of successive losses in the league.
Four wins and two draws were enough to see Palmeiras finishing top of Group F but now, for the first time since 2017, they must overturn a first leg deficit or face elimination at this stage.
Palmeiras have a habit of conceding first in this competition, something that has happened four times already. That could be fatal here, if it repeats itself. Botafogo can secure the share of the spoils they need to move on.
All three first leg goals were scored inside the opening 45 minutes. The second period was an altogether more tense affair, with neither side able to muster a shot on target.
With qualification now very much on the line, this second leg could become very cagey from the start.
Eight of Palmeiras' last 10 games have produced under 2.5 goals and with the league leaders likely to try and hold what they have, this could follow a similar path.
Winger Luiz Henrique was brought back to his native land by Botafogo earlier this year in what the club reported at the time to be the highest transfer fee ever paid by a Brazilian club.
In his 21 appearances in the Brazilian top tier this season, he's contributed four goals and three assists and looks a constant threat. He was on hand last week to slot the winning goal in the first leg and give his side that crucial advantage they will hope to hold onto now.
His pace on the break could be crucial here and, with that goal behind him last time, he's decent value at 6/1 to get two or more shots on target in the second leg if he can be fed the ball on the counter.
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