Two-time Brasilerao winners Botafogo have been relegated from the Brazilian top-flight following their 1-0 defeat to Sport Recife on Friday night.
A 24th minute penalty from Iago Maidana was the final nail in the coffin for Fogão as it all but confirmed their drop from the Brazilian Championship.
The talking point of the relegation is the fact that it has happened with four games still to go.
That makes Botafogo the Brazilian Championship winner to suffer relegation the fastest, with this much rounds remaining.
It was a season full of errors and inconsistency for Botafogo and it is perhaps compounded by the fact that they have had four different coaches in the course of the season.
Botafogo also saw perhaps the worst run in their history as well. In their last 15 league games, they have only managed four points, losing 13 of them, winning one and drawing one. That is indeed an appalling run of form.
Botafogo also recorded one of the worst achievements in Brazilian Championship history for points recorded. With 23.5% of the points won so far, they are the fifth on the list in sides to be relegated with the least points. They are only ahead of América-RN, Avaí, Nautico and Paraná.
They also have one of the worst defences in the Brazilian Championship so far this season. With 53 goals conceded, only Bahia (55) and Goais (57) have conceded more goals than Botafogo this term.
However, Botafogo must put a disappointing campaign behind them and look towards next season. The last time they suffered relegation in 2014, they made an immediate return to the Brazilian Championship and they’ll be hoping to do the same now as well.
