Club World Cup Preview | Palmeiras VS Bottafogo: Who enters the quarterfinals? The balance of victory and loss in the game of grudges has been tilted

Under the lights of Lincoln Financial Stadium in Philadelphia, two Brazilian giants with green and white jerseys face each other across the middle circle - this is not an ordinary showdown in the Brazilian League, but a life-and-death battlefield in the Club World Cup knockout stage. The grudges accumulated in 128 encounters will usher in the ultimate liquidation in the North American mainland.

After the group stage of the 2025 Club World Cup, all four Brazilian teams advanced. In the first match of the 1/8 final, Palmeiras vs. Botafogo means that at least one team can enter the quarterfinals of the Club World Cup.

Palmeiras vs. Botafogo

Nature of the match: Club World Cup 1/8 finals

Match time: June 29, 0:00

Palmeiras, Botafogo, two old rivals in the Brazilian League, have fought from the Liberators Cup to the league championship, and now they meet on the globally esteemed Club World Cup stage.

Opening the history of the confrontation, the collision between these two teams is always full of drama. Although Palmeiras has gained the best in history with 51 wins, his disadvantage of 1 win, 2 draws and 3 losses in the last six games reveals the change of power.

The system created by Palmelas coach Abel Ferreira emphasizes control. The team averages 381 passes per game and has a success rate of 84%, but has a lot of fouls (64 fouls in the last 5 games) and exposes defensive aggressiveness. Their deadly weapons are clearly visible: high altitude hegemony: 1.92-meter-center-back Gustavo Gomez headed the defense line to a 73% success rate of the season; right-hand blade: Picres averaged 3.1 crosses per game, which is considered an offensive engine.

Bottafogo is known for his skill. The 4-2-3-1 formation of coach Renato Peva has hidden murderous intentions: direct pass from the scalpel: midfielder Savarino averages 4.2 key passes per game, and accurately feeds forward Igor Jesus (2 goals and 1 assist in the group stage); lightning counterattack: Jesus' sprint speed reaches 32km/h, and is the only one who beats Palmeiras to the left.

In this contradictory duel, Palmeiras' air defense advantage hit Bottafogo's weakness - the air defense ability at the bottom of the league, and Bottafogo's rapid counterattack is a weapon to crack the high-level defense line.

Palmeiras' 18-year-old supernova Estewan has won the best Club World Cup in a single game, and his breakthrough ability makes his opponent frightened. Weaverton praised: "He is destined to become a world-class superstar!" Messi and Suarez both took the initiative to exchange jerseys after confronting him, and Suarez even bluntly expressed his appreciation for his "technical ability and competition temperament."

Botafogo's door god John Victor is another barrier. In the match against Paris Saint-Germain, he made his opponent return with 23 shots in vain, and his save success rate this season is as high as 81%. The efficiency of forward Igor Jesus in 4 games made him a threat that Weverton needs to focus on the mark: "We must pay special attention to him."

Palmelas rested one more day before his opponent, and Botafogo played only 4 days after the last round of the bloody battle with Atletico Madrid. In summer heat in North America (28°C is expected during Philadelphia competition), physical fitness allocation may become a key variable.

Palmeiras has won 6 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses in the last 10 games in all competitions, and has not been defeated in 3 games in the Club World Cup group stage, and has advanced to the knockout round with the first place in Group A.

Botafogo has won 7 wins, 1 draw and 2 losses in the last 10 games in all competitions. In the group stage of the Club World Cup, they qualified in the second group. In the second round, they defeated the strong favorite Paris, and lost 0:1 to Atletico Madrid in the last round.

The two sides have faced each other in the last 10 times, Palmeiras has a slight disadvantage in 3 wins, 3 draws and 4 losses, and has not won 2 draws and 3 losses against Botavo in the last 5 times.

In this battle, both sides are evenly matched, and Palmeiras is expected to narrowly win the pass during regular time.