Atletico Madrid Clash with Botafogo: Complete Match Preview and Starting XI Predictions
Atlético Madrid's chances of progressing in the Club World Cup remain intact, though they must secure victory by a minimum of three goals to advance to the knockout stage ahead of Botafogo.
Following their heavy defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in their opening match, the Spanish club bounced back in Seattle with a convincing 3-1 triumph over the Sounders, effectively ending the MLS team's tournament hopes. Pablo Barrios netted twice in Atlético's commanding performance.
The magnitude of their loss against PSG means significant work lies ahead in Pasadena this Monday, as they face a Botafogo squad that delivered the tournament's biggest shock by defeating the European titleholders.
Renato Paiva's team showcased exceptional defensive discipline, restricting PSG to just two attempts on goal while capitalizing on their limited attacking opportunities. Should they replicate such defensive solidity from their second group match, the Copa Libertadores winners will secure top spot in Group B—dubbed the 'Group of Death'.
With their goal differential standing at +2 compared to Atlético's concerning -2, Simeone's squad requires a dramatic turnaround on Monday to progress. Though PSG shares equal points with the Spanish side, they're anticipated to comfortably defeat the Sounders and secure knockout qualification.
Here is Sports Illustrated's comprehensive preview of this crucial Club World Cup encounter.
What Time Does Atlético Madrid vs. Botafogo Kick-Off?
Atlético Madrid vs. Botafogo Head-to-Head Record
This marks the inaugural competitive meeting between Atlético Madrid and Botafogo.
Current Form (all competitions)
Atlético Madrid | Botafogo |
|---|---|
Seattle Sounders 1–3 Atlético Madrid – 19/06/25 | PSG 0–1 Botafogo – 19/06/25 |
PSG 4–0 Atlético Madrid – 15/06/25 | Botafogo 2–1 Seattle Sounders – 15/06/25 |
Girona 0–4 Atlético Madrid – 25/05/25 | Botafogo 3–2 Ceará – 05/06/25 |
Atlético Madrid 4–1 Real Betis – 18/05/25 | Santos 0–1 Botafogo – 01/06/25 |
Osasuna 2–0 Atlético Madrid –15/05/25 | Botafogo 1–0 Universidad de Chile – 28/05/25 |
How to Watch Atlético Madrid vs. Botafogo on TV
Country | TV channel/live stream |
|---|---|
United States | DAZN |
United Kingdom | DAZN |
Canada | DAZN |
Mexico | DAZN |
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Atlético Madrid Team News
Atlético Madrid needs a substantial victory in Pasadena to qualify, yet we shouldn't anticipate Simeone deploying an overly attacking formation. The Argentine coach will likely stick to his familiar approach.
Antoine Griezmann is expected to return to the starting lineup, replacing Alexander Sørtoth in the forward position, while Connor Gallagher might take veteran Koke's place in midfield. Pablo Barrios emerged as an unexpected scoring hero in the previous match, securing his position in the team.
Clément Lenglet is available after serving a one-game suspension, though alterations to Atlético's defensive setup seem unlikely.
Atlético Madrid Predicted Lineup vs. Botafogo
Atlético predicted lineup vs. Botafogo (4-4-2): Oblak; Llorente, Giménez, Le Normand, Galan; Simeone, De Paul, Barrios, Gallagher; Griezmann, Alvarez.
Botafogo Team News
New signings Joaquin Correa and Arthur Cabral have seen minimal action for the Copa Libertadores champions during the Club World Cup, while former Everton and Napoli midfielder Allan earned a starting berth in their second group fixture.
Cuiabano overcame a back problem to participate against PSG but only appeared as a substitute. Though he should be in better condition for this match, with Renato Paiva unlikely to alter his starting formation, the winger will probably remain among the substitutes.
Nottingham Forest-bound Igor Jesus has been Botafogo's standout performer in the United States, finding the net in both matches. He represents a dark horse candidate for the Golden Boot award.
Botafogo Predicted Lineup vs. Atlético Madrid
Botafogo predicted lineup vs. Atlético (4-3-3): John; Vitinho, Cunha, Barboza, Telles; Gregore, Freitas, Allan; Artur, Jesus, Savarino
Atlético Madrid vs. Botafogo Score Prediction
Botafogo has now secured five consecutive victories across all competitions, with their triumph over PSG destined to become legendary. That represented an outstanding defensive display.
Their performance against the European champions positions them well for the forthcoming battle against a desperate Atlético Madrid side. They've managed three or more goals in six of their last ten matches, though they failed to score in the remaining four encounters.
They found their rhythm against weaker opposition in their second group match, and Botafogo may struggle to reproduce their heroics from the PSG victory. Consequently, Atlético has an opportunity to achieve the emphatic win they require, but we believe they'll narrowly miss the mark.