For the first time in over 60 years Botafogo will be included in the Copa Libertadores Semi-final, hosts Penarol at the Estadio Olimpico Nilton Santos on Wednesday in the first game of this tie.

Fogo beat Sao Paulo on penalties in the round of 16, while the Uruguayans beat Flamengo 1-0 in their two-legged tie.

Game preview

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It’s been a long time coming for Botafogo fans to see their team in the Libertadores semi-finals for the first time since 1963.

Despite conceding an equalizer three minutes before the end of the second leg against Sao Paulo, the reigning Brasileiro Serie A leaders managed to hold their nerve in the penalty shootout.

Arthur JorgeBrazil’s men are unbeaten in twelve games across all competitions, their last defeat coming in Brazil’s top division against Juventude in August (3-2).

Fogo are unbeaten in four consecutive home games in the competition, winning three of them, while they have not lost in eight games in a row at the Estadio Olimpico Nilton Santos.

On Wednesday they will be aiming for their first semi-final triumph at the tournament, drawing 1-1 in their opening game at the time against Santos in 1963 and losing the second game 4-0.

Estrella Solitaria have never lost a Libertadores game against Uruguayan opponents and achieved a 4-1 victory in their only home game against Penarol in 1973.

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Some solid defensive performances in recent months have allowed Penarol to reach the semi-finals of this tournament for the first time since 2011.

Diego AguirreBarcelona’s men have conceded one goal or less in each of their last six Libertadores games and have kept three clean sheets in four knockout games.

Penarol is the first team from Uruguay to reach the semi-finals of this tournament in over a decade, when Defensor Sporting were eliminated at this point in 2014 by Club Nacional of Paraguay (2-1 on aggregate).

Manyas has won three consecutive competitive games without conceding a goal, with all of these triumphs coming in the Uruguayan top flight.

Four of their last five away games in all competitions have ended in a win for Penarol, including a 1-0 win at Flamengo in the quarter-finals which allowed them to progress.

This away win at Flamengo is only Decano’s second victory in Brazil in the knockout phase of this competition, the first being against Internacional (2-1) at the Estadio Beira-Rio in 2011.

Form of the Botafogo Copa Libertadores:

Botafogo form (all competitions):

Form of the Penarol Copa Libertadores:

Penarol form (all competitions):

Team news

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Botafogo may have to do without it in this opening game Raphael And Jeffinhoas both players are struggling with knee injuries and are not expected to return until the end of October Gatito Fernandez is suspended after receiving a red card in the second leg against Sao Paulo.

Thiago Almada had her only goal in this encounter John In the shootout, he saved one penalty and saw another hit the crossbar as his team was able to move on.

From the first to the second round of their quarterfinal match against Flamengo, Peñarol had the same starting eleven, with Camilio Mayada He was the only one who played in the opening game of this tie and did not play in the second leg.

Javier Cabrera‘s 13th minute goal in the first game against Flamengo was enough to advance to the semi-finals Washington Aguerre Now he has kept three clean sheets in his last four Libertadores games.

Botafogo possible starting lineup:
John; Vitinho, Bastos, Barboza, Telles; Gregor, Freitas; Martins, Savarino, Almada; Jesus

Possible Penarol starting lineup:
Aguerre; Milans, Mendez, Rodriguez, Olivera; Garcia, Darias; Cabrera, Fernandez, Baez; Silvera

We say: Botafogo 1-0 Penarol

Penarol’s backline will be difficult to penetrate, but Fogo is just as strong at the back and we believe they will eventually find a way to score, just as they have done all season.

For data analysis of the most likely outcomes, scores and more for this game, please click here.

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