Botafogo faces Caracas on Wednesday, May 27, at 7:00 p.m. Brasília time in the sixth and final round of Group E in the Copa Sudamericana, with the match set for the Olímpico de la UCV Stadium. Carlos Betancur of Colombia will officiate the game.
Botafogo already has qualification secured and enters the match as group leader with 13 points. The Brazilian club is aiming to finish the group stage unbeaten and preserve its strong campaign in the competition. Caracas, meanwhile, has already locked up second place with nine points and will look to improve its standing in the overall tournament picture, hoping for a more favorable matchup against a lower-ranked third-place team from the Copa Libertadores.
The Venezuelan side comes into the contest after a disappointing domestic run, finishing only 10th in the Apertura regular phase and failing to advance to the next stage of its local league. Despite that, Caracas arrives without any reported absences for this match, according to coach Henry Meléndez.
Botafogo, however, is expected to rotate its lineup. With first place already guaranteed, the team is likely to field a changed starting eleven as it prepares for its final Brazilian league match before the break for the Club World Cup. Several players remain unavailable due to injury. Bastos is still in the medical department, while Kaio Pantaleão, Nathan Fernandes, Allan, and Júnior Santos are also sidelined. Danilo remains away from the squad and is now with the Brazilian national team.
Even with the alterations, Botafogo will try to maintain its solid form and close the group stage with another positive result. The match marks the final step of the group phase for both teams, with Botafogo looking to confirm its dominance and Caracas seeking to end its campaign with the best possible outcome.
