The Group stages are done and dusted, and a competition that started with 32 teams is now down to its last 16. The tournament kickstarts the Round of 16 fixtures with a feisty all-Brazilian clash as Palmeiras square off against Botafogo for a place in the Final 8 of the tournament.
Here’s our preview and prediction for the Round of 16 match between Palmeiras and Botafogo at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025
Brazilian clubs have had a great FIFA Club World Cup so far, with all 4 of their representatives qualifying for the Round of 16. Unfortunately, only one of Palmeiras or Botafogo will go through to the quarterfinals, and the stakes have never been higher for both the teams.
Palmeiras qualify for the Round of 16 as Group A table-toppers. They started their campaign with a disciplined 0-0 draw against FC Porto. They then went on to beat the Egyptian side Al Ahly with a convincing 2-0 scoreline. They finished their group stage campaign with a rather rousing come-from-behind 2-2 draw against Inter Miami that saw them score 2 goals in the last 10 minutes of the contest after going 2-0 down.
While they did qualify for the knockouts, the level of performances by the side has left a little to be desired given that they are one of the sides from Brazil that have quality players across the board. The game against Inter Miami highlighted their defensive shortcomings, and against a side that they face more often than not in the Brazilian top-flight, these mistakes can be exploited ruthlessly by Botafogo if they are not worked on in the training ground.
Palmeiras will hope that their star winger Estevao will put his distractions of joining Chelsea on the sideline and ensure that he makes a tangible contribution as long as he is wearing the green of Palmeiras.
Botafogo, on the other hand, enter this contest as runners-up from Group B, but having more points than their opponents. They enter the knockout stages having torn the script apart, having shocked everyone by beating reigning European Champions Paris Saint-Germain. This stunning result was preceded by their opening game win against the MLS side Seattle Sounders, where they could have had much more than the 2-1 scoreline at the end. They matched Atletico Madrid shot for shot, only to fall agonisingly short of a very well-deserved draw.
The Alvinegro Carioca are arguably the second-best Brazilian side in this tournament based on their performances so far. They are defensively resolute, their midfield is one of the hardest-working in terms of breaking play and shielding their backline, and their attacking prowess is a mix of silky creativity and unpredictable flair that can take the best of defenses by surprise. With a manager in Renato Paiva that has so far managed to get the best out of every player in the side, they will look to go one better over their rivals in this contest.
Palmeiras will look to take advantage of their superior head-to-head record against Botafogo, having won 18 out of the 41 games these two sides have played against each other. Botafogo have won 12 and the other 11 have ended in draws.
Expect this match to be a tightly-contested affair, with typical robust Brazilian flair, physicality and ruggedness on offer. All things considered, we believe Botafogo have the better chance of winning this game, thereby making them our favourites for this match.
Score Prediction: Palmeiras 1- 3 Botafogo
Venue: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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