Author: Vishwajit Sawant
Matchday 15 opened with leaders Botafogo playing RJ-Bragantino. In a thrilling display of dominance, Botafogo once again showed their championship aspirations by securing a convincing 2-0 win at the Nilton Santos stadium. The Glorioso’s remarkable achievement marked their eighth consecutive home win, maintaining an impeccable record in the competition and firmly establishing their position as absolute leaders.
The game began with Botafogo taking control from the start, dictating the tempo and creating a plethora of chances to score. Tiquinho Soares and Luiz Henrique came very close to opening the scoring, but their shots didn’t reach the back of the net. However, the turnaround seemed imminent when Eduardo fired a powerful shot that hit the crossbar, coming very close to scoring the opener.
In a series of dramatic moments, the match witnessed some controversial incidents that added to the intensity. Luan Patrick’s audacious attempt to score from distance almost caught goalkeeper Cleiton off guard, but his shot narrowly missed the target. Eduardo had another chance to convert, but fate conspired against him as his shot hit the crossbar and went over the goal line, deemed inconclusive by the referees.
However, Botafogo’s persistence and relentless pressure finally paid off. Taking advantage of Red Bull Bragantino’s defensive errors, especially Natan’s mistakes, Eduardo opened the scoring, putting the ball into the back of the net. Shortly afterwards, Di Placido joined the goal frenzy, punishing his opponents for their defensive lapses and doubling the lead.
With a comfortable lead, Botafogo shifted their focus to game management, skilfully controlling possession and allowing time to pass. Red Bull Bragantino fought bravely to pull off a comeback, but their efforts were stifled by Botafogo’s resolute defense, anchored by goalkeeper Lucas Perri.
The victory took Botafogo to an unprecedented record in the Campeonato Brasileiro, collecting an incredible 39 points in 15 games. This surpasses the previous mark set by Corinthians in 2017, further solidifying Botafogo’s credentials as genuine title contenders. While enjoying their remarkable achievements, the Glorioso now enjoy a formidable 12-point lead over second-placed Flamengo, who played Fluminense at the Maracanã – 0:0 on Sunday.