Botafogo vs Mirassol – News and Probable Lineups

After suffering a significant loss in their last match, Botafogo will face fellow competitors Mirassol at the Estadio Olimpico Nilton Santos on Wednesday during the ninth round of the 2026 Brasileiro Serie A. Both teams are aiming for a crucial boost to escape the relegation zone.

The Glorioso enters this match off the back of a 4-1 defeat to Atletico Paranaense in Rodrigo Bellao’s debut as interim head coach, while the Araraquense Highway Lion come in following a narrow 1-0 loss to Vitoria.

Match overview

This season has been inconsistent for Botafogo, who have oscillated between moments of promise and extended periods of struggle, a trend that has hindered their overall progress.

Between early and mid-February, a six-match losing streak resulted in elimination from the quarter-finals of the Campeonato Carioca, but a subsequent five-match unbeaten streak led to triumph in the Copa Rio after a win against Bangu in the final.

However, their momentum has dissipated once more, with the Glorioso losing four of their last five games (W1), a stretch that also saw them exit the Copa Libertadores after a defeat to Ecuador’s Barcelona Sporting Club in the third qualifying round.

This downturn led to Martin Anselmi’s dismissal despite a 2-1 victory over Bragantino, and Bellao could not capitalize on that success as his team was dominated by Atletico, even with Edenilson equalizing in the 43rd minute.

The defeat has left Botafogo positioned 17th in the Brasileirao Serie A table, just one point away from safety after accumulating six points from seven matches, with defensive weaknesses becoming a critical issue.

Having conceded 16 goals, the Glorioso holds the joint worst defensive record in the league, an area the interim coach must address urgently as they aim for a vital victory midweek.

With the same six points, Mirassol sits directly below their hosts due to a lower number of victories, having achieved only one win from their seven Serie A matches this season (D3, L3).

This record is a stark contrast to last season when the Araraquense Highway Lion made a mark in their inaugural top-flight campaign and qualified for continental competition.

The absence of key players during the off-season seems to have disrupted their unity, with new signings still striving for coherence in Rafael Guanaes’ system.

Mirassol enters this match without a win in nine outings across all competitions, as they were eliminated from the Campeonato Paulista before reaching the knockout stage. Their solitary league victory came on opening day with a 2-0 win over Vasco.

Currently on a three-match losing streak, each defeat for the visitors has been by a single goal, during which they have failed to find the back of the net, including the loss to Vitoria decided by Baralhas’ first-half goal.

Team News

Botafogo is set to miss several key players, including Kaio Pantaleao, Marcal, Newton, Allan, and Chris Ramos, all out due to injuries.

Centre-back Alexander Barboza will also miss the match because of a suspension that results from his third yellow card against Athletico Paranaense.

Bellao may opt to retain much of the previous starting XI, although Nahuel Ferraresi could come into central defence, with Junior Santos and Lucas Villalba pushing for inclusion in the first team.

Mirassol faces its own injury woes, as Igor Carius and Eduardo are both ruled out, while veteran left-back Reinaldo will be serving a suspension after receiving his third yellow card against Vitoria.

Victor Luis is likely to take over on the left side, with Gabriel Pires potentially strengthening the midfield as the visitors aim to break their winless streak.

Botafogo probable starting XI:

Raul; Vitinho, Bastos, N Ferraresi, A Telles; Edenilson, C Medina; L Villalba, A Montoro, S Rodriguez; Junior Santos

Mirassol probable starting XI:

Walter; I Formiga, Joao Victor, W Machado, Victor Luis; Neto Moura, J Aldo, G Pires; NEGUEBA, Alesson; Tiquinho Soares

As both teams grapple with inconsistency and absences while sitting in the relegation zone, this match promises to be an intriguing contest.

Past encounters have been exciting, including a thrilling 3-3 draw at the Niltao, making another high-scoring stalemate a distinct possibility given the defensive vulnerabilities on both sides.