Botafogo and Defensa will meet for the first time in the quarterfinal of the Sudamericana. The Paraguayan team Guarani was eliminated by the Brasileiro Serie A leaders in the previous round by a score of 2-1 on aggregate, while Halcon reached the round of eight for the first time since 2020 after defeating the Ecuadorian team Emelec by a combined score of 3-1.
Preview (Botafogo vs Defensa)
This is similar to their round of 32 matchup against Patronato. O Glorioso has the chance to make history at the Sudamericana. They have never won a semifinal match in this competition. They have lost at this level of competition twice previously (in 2008 and 2009). Bruno Lage’s team hasn’t allowed a single goal in three of their previous five games. All of their goals this month have come in the closing 45 minutes.
In this competition, they will meet an Argentine opponent for the ninth time on Wednesday. Fogo is still undefeated at home against teams from the Argentine Primera Division at the Sudamericana. For the Rio-based team, playing in front of their supporters has been a huge advantage this year. Fogo hasn’t lost at Estadio Olimpico Nilton Santos since a 1-0 loss to Portuguesa RJ in March. Botafogo and Corinthians have both remained unbeaten since being demoted from the Copa Libertadores. It makes them the only clubs from the group stage of this competition that are still surviving.
Even though they left it late in their first game against Emelec, their 2-1 comeback victory provided Defensa the momentum they required to return home. Halcon won 1-0 in the return leg, earning its second clean sheet of the campaign as a result. This squad has now won three straight away games at the Sudamericana after losing their opening group encounter, 3-0 at Millonarios, to halt a two-match losing streak on the road in all competitions. For the first time since winning their sole Sudamericana championship in 2020, when they also defeated Vasco da Gama and Bahia in the process, Defensa is now in the quarterfinals of this competition.
Team News
Due to a calf strain, Gabriel Pires will probably be out for a few weeks. Rafael and Tiquinho Soares are still struggling with knee issues. Hugo and Tiquinho Soares scored goals in the second half to help the Brazilians win the first leg of their round of 16 match. Gatito Fernandez made three saves in the second match to preserve the Brazilians’ slim lead. One of the few remaining players from this team who was there when they last met Defensa in this competition is Fernandez, who recorded a clean sheet in their 1-0 first-round playoff triumph over the Argentines in 2019. Former striker Erik scored the game’s sole goal.
After suffering a muscle strain, Gabriel Alanis will rejoin the Defensa lineup in a few weeks. Nicolas Tripichio is still feeling pain in his body. In their first encounter against Emelec, goals from Nicolas Fernandez and Gaston Togni helped them come back from a late 1-0 deficit. In their second match against Emelec, a goal from David Barbona in the 62nd minute was all they needed to win. Enrique Bologna made four saves to preserve the clean sheet. Togni has scored five goals for Halcon in this competition, one fewer than Fernandez. He is tied for second place with Federico Santander of Guarani, Benjamin Rollheiser of Estudiantes, and Adam Bareiro of San Lorenzo. Fernandez is two goals behind America Mineiro’s Gonzalo Mastriani in the race for the Golden Boot.
Botafogo 1 – 0 Defensa
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