Internacional vs Botafogo Predictions, Team News and Betting Tips

Internacional welcome Botafogo to the Estádio Beira-Rio on Saturday 24 October, with kick-off at 20:30 UK.

Internacional sit 17th in the Campeonato Brasileiro table on 32 points from 31 games, with seven wins, 11 draws and 13 defeats. Botafogo are 11th on 39 points, with 10 wins, nine draws and 12 defeats.

How the teams arrive

Internacional have won only twice in their last five. They beat Chapecoense 2-1 away, then lost 1-0 at São Paulo, beat Corinthians 2-1 at home, drew 1-1 at Grêmio and, last time out, lost 2-0 at Mirassol.

They have scored 1.06 goals a game, the 3rd fewest in the league, and only 39% of their matches have gone over 2.5 goals, also the 3rd lowest. Their 15.58 fouls a game are the most in the division, and they average 4.29 shots on target, the 9th fewest.

Botafogo have scored more freely. They average 1.42 goals a game, the 7th most, and 5.26 shots on target, the 5th most. Their latest result was a 1-0 home win over Chapecoense, preceded by a 1-1 draw at Coritiba and a 2-1 home loss to Vasco. Before that came a 2-0 defeat at Mirassol and a 3-2 home win over Grêmio.

Both teams to score has landed in 68% of Botafogo's games, the 4th highest rate in the league, and they have kept a clean sheet only 16% of the time, the 5th lowest. Over 2.5 goals has come up in 61% of their matches, the 3rd highest.

Predicted lineups

Internacional possible starting lineup:
Kauan; Bruno Gomes, Félix Torres, Juninho, Bernabei; Bruno Henrique, Thiago Maia, Braian Aguirre; Carbonero, Matheus Bahia, Alerrandro

Botafogo possible starting lineup:
Gabriel Batista; Vitinho, Ferraresi, Alex Telles, Marçal; Allan, Danilo, Ziyech; Montoro, Matheus Martins, Tiquinho Soares

Players to watch

For Botafogo, Matheus Martins is on a run of 16 straight games with a shot, averaging 2.4, and is 1.06 at Ladbrokes. Nahuel Ferraresi has made a tackle in 20 straight games and committed a foul in 15 in a row, and is 1.33 at Midnite for a foul. Álvaro Montoro has had a shot in four of his last five and is 1.30 at bet365 for another.

Hakim Ziyech has had a shot in four straight games, averaging 2.5, and two or more in four of his last five. Two or more shots is 1.22 at bet365.

For Internacional, Bruno Gomes has committed a foul in nine straight games and is 1.29 at Midnite to extend it. He has also made three or more tackles in each of his last three, averaging 4.7, and three-plus tackles is 1.73 at bet365. Thiago Maia has made two or more tackles in three straight games, averaging 2.3, and is 1.73 at bet365 for two-plus. Braian Aguirre has had two or more shots in three straight games, averaging 3.3, and is 1.80 at Ladbrokes for two-plus. Félix Torres has made a tackle in four of his last five and is 1.22 at bet365 for another.

Match Leaders

Odds and Statz prediction

We back Internacional, who are 2.00 at Ladbrokes to win. Botafogo are 3.80 at bet365 and the draw is 3.60 at Ladbrokes.

We predict 1-1, the likeliest single scoreline at 13.5%, though we make Internacional the more probable winner at 45%, with Botafogo on 27% and the draw on 28%. We project 1.49 goals for Internacional and 1.12 for Botafogo, and 1-0 and 2-1 to the hosts follow the draw. Both teams to score comes out at 53%.

Prediction: Internacional 1-1 Botafogo.