Botafogo vs. Fortaleza Preview and Betting Odds

The Brasileirão is entering its 25th Matchday, and things have turned out pretty interesting at the top of the board. Botafogo, Flamengo, and Palmeiras continued to fight each other to reach the top, but an unexpected Fortaleza emerged with a 10-match unbeaten run.

Now, the top two teams on the board face each other in one of the most important matches of the 2025 season. It will be a test of courage for both, as the Fogao wants to erase the stain of its last season meltdown, and the Tricolor must show that its form is not a fluke.

Botafogo vs. Fortaleza Betting Odds and Info

Why Bet on Botafogo?

Botafogo is one point behind the new leaders, as their last draw didn’t allow them to retain the lead. They will be hosting this upcoming match, trying to pick up the pace following some weeks of irregularity.

After spending most of the second half of 2024 ashaming itself, O Fogo recovered this season in a great manner. Most experts tipped them to make a terrible start and even be relegation candidates, following last season’s meltdown, but the new DT, Arthur Jorge, did a great job at turning the page. However, just like last season, things are getting difficult entering the last stretch.

Don’t misunderstand, just a couple of weeks ago they destroyed another rival for the title, Flamengo, so this team is far from the one that relinquished an 18-point lead without resistance. That game against a Rio de Janeiro rival was also at the Nilton Santos stadium, so that gives them hope to give another hit to the table.

Why Bet on Fortaleza?

With nine wins in the last ten games, Fortaleza jumped from midtable obscurity to be contenders for the title. That wasn’t on anyone’s predictions, but looking at the other teams at the top is not that surprising. The truth is that the Brasileirão is not providing strong leaders this season, as neither Botafogo, Flamengo, Palmeiras, nor Paranaense, teams at the top at some moment, remained there for long. In this context, the fertile ground for a surprising contender was there.

They come from beating Corinthians, who may be one of the worst teams this season but are still a G-12 club with plenty of history to showcase. They also did so as visitors. That is the great virtue of the Leao do Pici contrary to their rivals for the title, who have been terrible away from home recently, including the Fogao.

Either way, Juan Pablo Vojvoda has a high mountain to climb in the Nilton Santos if he wants to make history.

Final Betting Analysis: Botafogo vs. Fortaleza

If, at the beginning of the season, one would say that Botafogo and Fortaleza would encounter with the first place at stake, it would have been a curious occurrence. Saying that it would be the case in matchday 25 would have been taken as crazy. A couple of seasons ago, most people would have laughed at you as both teams were more worried about relegation than anything else.

In the last 13 matches, there is a clear dominance by the Fogao, who has seven wins against three by the Tricolor. There were three draws. In that span, they played six times at the Nilton Santos Stadium, with five victories for the locals. Fortaleza won once, 1-2, in 2020. It is their last and only win on that ground in the previous 20 years.

The Leao do Pici has been navigating against the current a lot recently, so we believe they’ll achieve something in Rio de Janeiro, but it will be a draw. Go for a 2-2.

Go for a tie at 3.72. If you bet $100 at such odds, you could get $272 for a total payout of $372.

Botafogo vs. Fortaleza Betting Pick: Draw