They were in the lead for 31 dates of the 37 that this Brasileirão has already run, after scoring a record of 47 points during the first round and being 13 units ahead of his second team. However, with one round of the tournament still to be played, Botafogo lost all chance of being champion and their fight now passes to see if they can get directly into the Copa Libertadores or must play a previous play-off.
Fogão went from being the sensational and unbeatable team of the championship to becoming the protagonist of a resounding and unprecedented fall in football. The history books will dedicate a chapter to trying to explain how the team, champions in 1968 and 1995, let a new star escape.
The beginning of the journey was with a smile: after returning to the first division last year and beginning a reconversion process after being acquired by American billionaire John Textor, the Rio de Janeiro club achieved 13 wins in the first 15 dates. He finished the first round of the Brasileirão with 47 points out of a possible 57, setting a record.
The teams that were initially the favorites such as Palmeiras, Flamengo and Atlético Mineiro looked back, with a wide distance that reached 13 units. That Botafogo was unbeatable thanks to footballers who became a revelation of the championship, led by Tiquinho Soares, who with 17 goals is second in the tournament’s scoring table.
READ MORE
++ Diego Costa is self-critical for Botafogo’s downfall in the Brasileirão
++ Deco: It was the best option to bring Vitor Roque in January
++ The unusual gift from Grêmio’s coach for Suarez’s departure
The beginning of the fall of Botafogo
In the team’s best moment, Portuguese coach Luís Castro left to coach his compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo at Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia and Bruno Lage arrived in his place. Another game proposal and several injuries caused the beginning of the decline and the new coach’s mandate lasted less than three months, with only five wins in 16 games and elimination in the Copa Sudamericana.
Lúcio Flávio took the reins, but the collapse was accentuated by a bad streak in which he barely obtained nine points in eight games. This situation was taken advantage of by Palmeiras, who took the lead on matchday 34 and kept it ever since on the verge of being champion again on the next and last date.
Textor got involved again and the team’s fourth coach arrived during the championship: the experienced Tiago Nunes. The course did not change and Botafogo moved away from the lead of the tournament. They haven’t won in ten games, they lost duels against Palmeiras and Grêmio despite being ahead 3-1 and teams like Bragantino, Santos and Coritiba tied their games on the hour mark.
Now located in fifth position, their fight now involves whether they qualify directly for the next Copa Libertadores or if they have to play a previous play-off. That will be defined on the last date when they visit Internacional and close a championship that all fans will want to forget.
