Today, August 18, 2024, marks a historic day in Botafogo history as the team, led by coach Arthur Jorge, beat Flamengo 4-1 at the Nilton Santos Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.
The match, valid for the Brazilian league’s twenty-third round and played at Botafogo’s home ground, was a crucial battle in the fight for the league title.
With both Botafogo and Flamengo fighting for the top spot, today’s match was much more than just a local derby for the two; it was a game that could potentially cost everything at the end of the season.
the high stakes brought in by such an important match, both teams went in with as much firepower as they could.
Botafogo, coached by Portuguese Arthur Jorge, chose to go in with the traditional 4-3-3 formation, with João Victor in goal and Barboza and Bastos on defense.
On the defensive flanks for the Glorious were Mateo Ponte and Cuiabano, while Gregore and Marlon Freitas were the CDMs.
The number 10 position for Botafogo was filled by Argentine superstar Thiago Almada, while in front of him were Savarino, Luiz Henrique, and Igor Jesus.
Over at Flamengo’s camp, the formation of choice by Tite was 4-2-3-1, with Rossi in goal and a defense made up of Wesley, David Luiz, Fabrício Bruno, and Ayrton Lucas.
In the middle of the park were Allan and Léo Ortiz, Gerson, Arrascaeta, and Bruno Henrique—with Carlinhos playing as the sole striker through the middle.
While Botafogo could count on most of their best players, besides Júnior Santos and Jeffinho who are out with injuries, Flamengo had a few more problems when it came to missing players.
As you might have noticed, big names like Pedro, Gabriel Barbosa, and Everton were missing from the starting eleven due to injuries—something that has really been plaguing the “Rubro-Negro” this season.
The injury problem within Flamengo’s camp is so bad that even during the game itself, it struck hard.
With only eight minutes of play, Flamengo’s key player Arrascaeta had to be substituted due to an injury.
This early injury hindered Flamengo a lot, but as shocking as it might seem, it wasn’t even the “Rubro-Negro’s” first misfortune of the night.
This is due to the fact that with only three minutes of play, Botafogo had already scored their first goal.
The game’s opener came after a beautiful cross from Marlon Freitas found Mateo Ponte by himself inside the box, and with a deadly header, he left no chance for Rossi—and with that, it was 1-0 Botafogo.
This early goal by Botafogo changed the dynamic of the whole game.
It gave the Glorious a psychological edge and forced Flamengo to chase the game from the outset, something that, as time would tell us, they would do for almost the whole game.
However, it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows for Botafogo, and as much as the advantage foreshadowed what was to come until what was to come was reached, Flamengo was able to play their part and equalize.
The Rubro-Negro’s big moment came after Léo Ortiz put in a precise through ball for Bruno Henrique, who put in a left-footed shot into the top right corner.
The equalizer helped shift the momentum ever so slightly in Flamengo’s favor, and from then until the halftime whistle, the game would be a pretty even battle.
However, it was once the second half started that Botafogo’s disco party at the Nilton Santos began.
Nine minutes into the first half, Igor Jesus helped Botafogo take the lead again with a left-footed shot from the center of the box.
This moment was pivotal as it not only restored Botafogo’s lead but also put Flamengo under immense pressure, which resulted in them having to take more risks, leading to them conceding more goals.
And the score of 2-1 only didn’t become a premature 3-1 because Botafogo’s Thiago Almada missed a penalty.
the missed penalty didn’t dampen Botafogo’s momentum as, even with the lead, the team kept at it and didn’t let off until more goals were made.
However It was only in the 84th minute of the game that the decisive third goal came, and it was made by super-substitute Matheus Martins.
The goal not only was Matheus’s first for Botafogo but it also played an important part in the game’s overall dynamic as it extinguished any hope Flamengo had for a comeback.
If 3-1 is good, 4-1 would be perfect—and that’s exactly what Matheus Martins believed, as even with the game already won, the youngster kept pushing for more, and more he got.
In the dying minutes of the game, with the time at about 90+4, Matheus broke out on a fast break and ended up making it all the way to Flamengo’s box, where from the left side, he put in a powerful left-footed shot, leaving no chance for the keeper.
The final goal of the game was deserved as the difference between a 3-1 win and a 4-1 win is significant, and in today’s case, a 4-1 win was more than deserved.
The big win for Botafogo showcased their on-field dominance and their ability to exploit Flamengo’s faults.
For Flamengo, the end result was both humiliating and a needed reality check. Although the Rubro-Negro didn’t have Pedro, Everton, or Gabigol, none of those players are defenders, and their absence isn’t an excuse to concede four goals.
On the other hand, Botafogo leaves the Nilton Santos with a historic milestone and three very important points.
Today’s win marked the first time Botafogo beat Flamengo by three goals since 2008 and the first time this century that they beat the Rubro-Negro in both games of the competition.
Beyond the history made, the win at the Nilton Santos also means Botafogo will go up to 46 points in the league, overtake Fortaleza (45), and become the league’s first-place team.
Overall, for Botafogo, the night couldn’t have ended better.
But despite all the reasons to celebrate, the week is just getting started for Botafogo.
On Wednesday, they will travel to São Paulo to face Palmeiras in the second leg of the Libertadores.
Flamengo also have an important Libertadores game, with their second-leg match against Bolívar happening on Thursday in Bolivia.
With this said, both teams from Rio will now regroup and refocus as both clubs have very important games coming up. And if you want to keep up with all things to do with the Brazilian league– all you have to do is keep up with the RoadRunner.
