This has turn into a recreation with a transparent favorite.
Particularly after Tuesday’s huge win away to Palmeiras, Botafogo are the facet that most individuals will count on to win.
Their morale is excessive, whereas Atletico have gone 10 video games and not using a win – the final victory was within the first leg of the semi-final again on 22 October.
Since then they misplaced each legs of the celebrated home cup closing and have slumped within the league.
The important thing query, then, is how will Atletico method the sport?
Botafogo will look to impose themselves, attacking at tempo, by way of the costs of Luiz Henrique and the intelligent, fast, angled passes of Almada and Jefferson Savarino, their Venezuelan attacking midfielder.
In full circulate they’re an exciting sight, and probably one of the best staff to return out of South America since that 2019 Flamengo facet.
Atletico coach Milito usually needs to assault.
In the midst of his again three, Rodrigo Battaglia is a transformed midfielder, there to assist the facet play out of defence.
Does the coach choose to take a seat again and canopy up, strengthening midfield? Or will he persist with an attacking trident, with Deyverson pushing the Botafogo defence again to create room for the surges of Hulk?
There are two arguments in favour of a extra cautious gameplan.
One is that, in the direction of the tip of a gruelling season, Botafogo could also be tiring. They could pay a worth for that important win over Palmeiras on Tuesday.
With the potential for further time, Milito might resolve to play a ready recreation.
Additionally, the longer the scores are degree, the extra nervous Botafogo are more likely to turn into.
This new Botafogo are nonetheless ready for the primary title – and the primary is the toughest.
Final yr, they let a large lead slip within the league – and what appeared like sure victory resulted in a disappointing fifth place.
It is a completely different and much better staff.
However the collective trauma stays – and there have been some late wobbles in the midst of this Libertadores marketing campaign.
The best way to heal the trauma, in fact, is to win the trophy – and it guarantees to be enjoyable seeing if Botafogo can rise to the event, play to potential and turn into the final of Brazil’s conventional massive 12 golf equipment to crown themselves as champions of South America.
