Santos vs Botafogo prediction, H2H and probable lineups - June 1, 2025
One of the fixtures of Brazil's 11th round will unfold this Sunday at the Vila Belmiro, where local side Santos host Botafogo. I’m tipping a goals market bet in this clash with a strong value on offer.
Match preview
After relegation in 2023, Santos have struggled to find their feet back in the top flight. The team has already suffered six defeats in 10 rounds and, with just six points, are languishing in the relegation zone. However, their recent away win over Vitoria (1-0) could signal a turnaround—it was their first victory in eight matches across all competitions.
The Peixe’s main issue has been a lack of firepower: just eight goals in 10 rounds—one of the league’s lowest tallies. On the plus side, their defense has tightened up: only one goal conceded in the last four matches, giving fans some optimism ahead of this crucial home tie.
Following a historic double—winning the Brasileirao and the Libertadores—Botafogo have had to juggle their priorities and manage their squad. Despite some inconsistency, they’re holding steady mid-table and recently booked a spot in the South American Champions League playoffs with a 1-0 win in a key match against Universidad de Chile.
However, Fogão have been extremely reserved on the road: in five away Serie A games, they’ve yet to score. Defensively, they’ve been solid—keeping clean sheets in three of their last five matches. But up front, Botafogo clearly lack creativity away from Rio de Janeiro.
Probable lineups
- Santos: Guilherme Brazao, Luciano Godoy, Joao Basso, Luan Peres, Souza, Tomas Rincon, Ze Rafael, Guilherme, Benjamin Rollheiser, Alan Barreall, Deivid Washington
- Botafogo: Joao Victor, Vitinho, Joao Cunha, Alejandro Barbosa, Alex Telles, Gregore, Mateus Freitas, Artur, Jefferson Savarino, Cuiabano, Ignacio Jesus
Match facts and head-to-head
- Botafogo have failed to score in all five of their away league matches
- Under 2.5 goals has landed in Botafogo’s last three games
- The same ‘Under 2.5 goals’ bet has also landed in Santos’ last five matches
Prediction
Both teams come into this clash with clear attacking struggles but solid defensive records. Santos look more settled at home, while Botafogo continue to falter on the road, failing to find the net away from home. Given the stats, we shouldn’t expect a goal fest—there’s a strong chance of a low-scoring affair. Our pick: Under 2.5 goals at odds of 1.55.
