Botafogo vs Santos prediction: teams form analysis, possible lineups on July 17, 2026
Serie A Brazil
In the 19th round of Brazil's Serie A on July 17, 2026, Botafogo and Santos will face off. The hosts are determined to beat an opponent who has started the season even more weakly.
Botafogo vs Santos: Team News and Expert Analysis
The club from Rio de Janeiro came close to winning both the Brasileirao and the Copa Libertadores two seasons ago, but finished second in both cases. In 2025, they slipped to fifth place. Now, things are even worse. Barcelona from Guayaquil denied the Brazilians a spot in the Copa Libertadores group stage, but at least they managed to qualify for the less prestigious Copa Sudamericana playoffs. However, in the national championship, they have more losses than wins, including a defeat to Bahia before the break.
The team from Santos played in the second division two seasons ago. Upon returning, they spent a long time at risk of relegation again. Ultimately, they finished in 12th place with 47 points and qualified for the Copa Sudamericana. They will also play in the playoffs there, facing USV soon. However, their domestic results have been even more modest. Only thanks to a win over Vitoria in the last round did they manage to go into the break in 16th place, just above the relegation zone.
The home side shows a balance: they score and concede an average of 1.82 goals per game. Gabriel Barbosa and company have a predictably negative ratio: scoring 1.44 goals and conceding 1.61 on average.
Previous Matches: Botafogo vs Santos
In the last five head-to-head encounters, Botafogo won twice, and three matches ended in a draw.
Neither side is impressive, so home-field advantage could be decisive. We predict a win for the home team (odds – 1.86).
Botafogo vs Santos: Key Statistics and Trends
- Botafogo have won three of their last five matches
- 82% of Botafogo's matches end with goals from both teams and the average total goals per match is 3.65
- Santos have won two in a row
- 72% of Santos' matches end with goals from both teams and the average total goals per match is 3.06
Botafogo vs Santos: Probable Starting Lineups
Botafogo are expected to play in a 1-4-4-2 formation (probable lineup): Raul Steffens – Marçal, Gabriel Justino, Itallo, Vitinho – J. Barrera, Santiago Rodriguez, Wallace Davi, Edenilson – Cris Ramos, Correa
Santos are expected to play in a 1-4-2-3-1 formation (probable lineup): Gabriel Brazao – Escobar, Luan Peres, Lucas Verissimo, Igor Vinicius – Oliva, Willian Arao – Barreal, Terceros, Gabriel Bontempo – Gabriel Barbosa
Place your bet on the upcoming match and follow the team's performance in the Brazil Serie A standings
