Independiente Petrolero vs Botafogo – News and Probable Lineups

Independiente Petrolero will take on Botafogo on Wednesday, May 20, at Estadio La Huerta in Asuncion, marking the fifth round of Copa Sudamericana Group E. This match has been relocated from Bolivia to Paraguay and will be played behind closed doors as mandated by Conmebol, owing to the political unrest and widespread protests currently affecting Bolivia.

Botafogo has already secured a place in the knockout stages, and a win against Petrolero – coupled with Caracas not defeating Racing away – would ensure they finish first in the group. In contrast, Independiente Petrolero sits at the bottom of the table with no points from their four matches, facing the end of their continental campaign while striving to reclaim some pride.

Match overview

Heading into the fifth round of Group E, Independiente Petrolero finds themselves eliminated from the 2026 Copa Sudamericana, having lost all four of their matches and only scoring three goals against 10 conceded. This has been a challenging inaugural campaign on the continental stage, showcasing a noticeable gap in quality between the Bolivian side and the other teams in the group.

Petrolero has encountered losses against Racing, Caracas, and Botafogo in the competition, including a significant 3-0 defeat to the Brazilian side. However, they have fared better domestically with impressive wins over Bolivar and Universitario Vinto, indicating their comfort in local competition compared to their struggles in international play.

Manager Thiago Leitao utilizes a 4-3-3 formation with Daniel Rojas, Gustavo Cristaldo, and Willie in midfield. Yet, ongoing defensive issues have resulted in goalkeeper Johan Gutierrez being one of the busiest and most vulnerable players on the team throughout the tournament.

Due to Conmebol’s decision to shift the fixture to Estadio La Huerta in Asuncion and proceed without fans because of Bolivia’s political situation, Petrolero will lose both their altitude edge and home support — factors that could have equalized the match.

Botafogo enters the match with their qualification already assured and can secure first place in Group E with a victory over Independiente Petrolero, following a dominant 3-0 win in their earlier meeting at the Nilton Santos Stadium, driven by goals from Mateo Ponte, Alvaro Montoro, and Newton.

Franclim Carvalho’s team remains unbeaten in the Copa Sudamericana after securing wins against Racing and Petrolero, alongside a draw with Caracas. Their nine goals across four games is the highest tally in the group, with Alvaro Montoro and Mateo Ponte being pivotal in attack.

Boosting their morale ahead of the trip to Paraguay, Botafogo claimed a 3-1 win against Corinthians in the Brasileirao last weekend, where Arthur Cabral scored a hat-trick, ending the team’s rough league form and reinstating confidence within the squad.

Taking the top spot in Group E would guarantee direct progression to the last 16 and provide home advantage at the Nilton Santos stadium in the knockout rounds. With their recent form and facing an already-eliminated opponent, Botafogo is heavily favored to secure another win in the Copa Sudamericana.

Team News

Independiente Petrolero has no confirmed injury issues, and coach Leitao is expected to have his complete squad available. Defender Eduardo will return from suspension, even though the club remains firmly at the bottom of the group with no points and eliminated from the tournament.

Now playing in Asuncion due to Conmebol’s fixture relocation amid Bolivia’s political crisis, Petrolero will lack the altitude advantage of Sucre, having averaged 2.5 goals conceded per match, and approaches the game with minimal expectations for a significant turnaround.

On the other hand, Botafogo’s Franclim Carvalho continues to manage several key absences in attack and midfield, with Matheus Martins, Junior Santos, Nathan Fernandes, Kaio Pantaleao, and Allan all unavailable, limiting the attacking options and depth of the squad.

Nonetheless, Botafogo tops Group E with 10 points and has already locked in direct qualification for the last 16, affording Carvalho the opportunity to rotate his lineup and offer essential playing time to players needing minutes ahead of the knockout phase.

Independiente Petrolero probable starting XI:

Johan Gutierrez; Saul Torres, Ronny Montero, Leonardo Montenegro, Francisco Rodriguez; Daniel Rojas, Gustavo Cristaldo, Willie; Roberto Villavicencio, Jonatan Cristaldo, Rodrigo Rivas

Botafogo probable starting XI:

Grandchild; Vitinho, Alexander Barboza, Ferraresi, Marcal; Edenilson, Danilo; Newton, Alvaro Montoro, Lucas Villalba; Arthur Cabral

With no points accrued from four matches, 10 goals conceded, and their elimination already confirmed, Petrolero may consider rotating their squad to concentrate more on domestic challenges, particularly after even the altitude of Sucre couldn’t prevent Caracas from winning 3-2 in the previous round.

Meanwhile, Botafogo enters this fixture brimming with confidence following a 3-1 victory over Corinthians, in which Arthur Cabral scored a hat-trick. Having also defeated Petrolero 3-0 in the earlier meeting despite making five alterations at half-time, the disparity in quality between the two teams remains apparent.