Raphael Durand
Dailysports's expert
One of the clashes of the third round of the Club World Cup will take place on Sunday at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, where Atletico Madrid will face Botafogo. I’m backing a bet on goals in this encounter, with some enticing odds on offer.
Match preview
After a painful thrashing by PSG, Atletico managed to regroup quickly and show their teeth in the match against Seattle. The 3-1 victory not only secured three crucial points but also served as a reminder that Diego Simeone’s squad knows how to win under pressure. However, the Madrid side can hardly boast a reliable defense at this Club World Cup: the team is conceding regularly, which remains the coaching staff’s main headache.
In attack, things remain solid for Atletico: the team is scoring consistently and often, with the Sørloth – Álvarez – Simeone Jr. trio looking more dangerous with every match. Still, any open contest against South American sides can spell trouble, so the Colchoneros must maintain a balance between attacking flair and strict discipline at the back.
The Brazilians have become the group’s real menace: first edging out Seattle by the slimmest of margins, then pulling off a major shock — beating PSG and keeping the French stars scoreless. Thanks to that, Botafogo now tops the group and enjoys a comfortable cushion: a draw is all they need to book a playoff spot.
Renato Paiva’s side plays pragmatically: solid defending, smart pressing, and lightning-quick transitions into attack. Against Atletico, the approach won’t change — the Brazilians will look to pounce on their opponent’s mistakes, and given Madrid’s defensive instability, Botafogo will surely have chances to score.
Probable lineups
- Atletico Madrid: Jan Oblak — José María Giménez, Javi Galán, Robin Le Normand — Marcos Llorente, Rodrigo De Paul, Pablo Barrios, Koke — Alexander Sørloth, Julián Álvarez, Giuliano Simeone.
- Botafogo: John Victor — Alex Telles, Vitinho, Jair Cunha, Alexander Barbosa — Allan Marques Loureiro, Gregore, Marlon Freitas, Leo Arthur — Jefferson Savarino, Igor Jesus.
Match facts and head-to-head
- At least three goals were scored in 14 of Atletico’s last 15 matches on the international stage.
- Botafogo have won five straight matches in the Copa Libertadores and Club World Cup.
- This is the first ever official meeting between these two teams.
Prediction
Atletico have no choice but to go on the offensive — they need nothing less than a win. This will create inviting opportunities for Botafogo’s counterattacks, and the Brazilians are experts at capitalizing on their opponents’ mistakes. Given the Colchoneros’ defensive frailties and Botafogo’s strong scoring record, a bet on Botafogo’s individual total over 0.5 goals at odds of 1.63 looks like the optimal play.
