Botafogo Vs Flamengo: Match Preview, Where To Watch And Lineups
Botafogo vs flamengo meet at the Estádio Nilton Santos in the 6th round of the Brasileirão, with kickoff scheduled for 7: 30 pm ET. Amazon Prime Video will carry the broadcast as the two Rio rivals play their second match of 2026 after a March meeting in the state championship.
Match Context: recent results and stakes
This is the second meeting between the clubs this year; Flamengo won the earlier encounter in March in the Campeonato Carioca quarterfinals by 2-1 at the same stadium and advanced. Botafogo arrives after elimination from the Libertadores following a home defeat by Barcelona de Guayaquil, a result the team is looking to move past before the Brasileirão restart.
Flamengo come into the fixture fresh from state success and a midweek league win. The team claimed the state title on Sunday after a penalty shootout victory over Fluminense — a match that also marked the debut of coach Leonardo Jardim — and followed that with a 2-0 victory over Cruzeiro at the Maracanã.
Botafogo Vs Flamengo: broadcast, kickoff and officials
The game kicks off at 7: 30 pm ET at the Estádio Nilton Santos and will be transmitted on Amazon Prime Video. The designated referee for the match is Anderson Daronco, with Rafael da Silva Alves and Brigida Cirilo Ferreira listed as assistants and Rodrigo D Alonso Ferreira as VAR.
Lineups, reinforcements and absences
Botafogo has a number of reinforcements available for the clash. Cristian Medina and Júnior Santos are registered and can play; coach Martín Anselmi indicated a need for a “virada de chave” to reset after the Libertadores exit and celebrated the arrival of reinforcements, saying the squad is beginning to take shape. The club is expected to start Raul in goal, replacing Léo Linck, and to field Ferraresi among the defensive options.
Probable Botafogo lineup listed for the match is: Raul; Ferraresi, Bastos and Barboza; Vitinho, Allan, Danilo and Alex Telles; Matheus Martins, Montoro and Arthur Cabral. Injured players unavailable include Chris Ramos, Kaio Pantaleão, Marçal and Santi Rodríguez. Allan and Martín Anselmi are on caution (pendurados).
Flamengo’s coach has signalled rotation as he tests his squad early in his tenure. De la Cruz is expected to be rested because of the synthetic turf at Nilton Santos, and Jardim has said he plans to manage minutes for key players and give opportunities across the group. The probable Flamengo lineup is: Rossi; Varela, Léo Ortiz (Vitão), Léo Pereira, Ayrton Lucas; Pulgar, Jorginho, Arrascaeta; Carrascal (Paquetá); Lino (Cebolinha) and Pedro (Wallace Yan).
Flamengo will be without Saúl (recovering from ankle surgery) and Bruno Henrique (pubalgia), with De la Cruz set to be rested. Léo Pereira is on caution (pendurado).
What to watch and immediate outlook
Key storylines include Botafogo’s attempt to respond promptly to continental elimination by integrating recent signings and a revised starting XI, and Flamengo’s early-season momentum under a new coach who plans to rotate the squad. The match offers an immediate measure of each side’s short-term shape: Botafogo seeking a reset and Flamengo aiming to consolidate the positive results that have followed the coaching change.
Expect emphasis on how the reinforcements perform for the home side and whether Flamengo’s rotation approach, including the rest for De la Cruz, changes the dynamic in attack. The match will be followed live throughout the broadcast and by coverage in real time from multiple outlets.
Kickoff is at 7: 30 pm ET; the teams are set to field the probable lineups above and play under referee Anderson Daronco.
