Athletico Crushes Botafogo 4-1 to Climb Second in Brasileirão Standings
Key Facts
— — Athletico-PR demolished Botafogo 4-1 at Arena da Baixada to climb to second place in the Brasileirão with 16 points, three behind leaders Palmeiras — their third consecutive victory under coach Odair Hellmann
— — Botafogo sinks to 17th in the relegation zone with just six points from seven matches, five defeats in seven games, and no permanent head coach after firing Martín Anselmi on March 22
— — Colombian forward Viveros scored twice, while Aguirre and Esquivel added second-half goals as Athletico exploited a disorganized Botafogo defense from the opening minutes
The latest Brasileirão standings confirm Athletico-PR’s surge into contention and Botafogo’s deepening crisis after a 4-1 demolition at Arena da Baixada on Sunday. The Rio Times, the Latin American financial news outlet, reports that the result lifted the Curitiba club to second place on 16 points — level with São Paulo and Fluminense but ahead on goal difference — while the reigning champions sank to 17th, opening the relegation zone with just six points from seven matches.
The match, postponed from the fifth round due to Botafogo’s Copa Libertadores schedule, was settled within three minutes. Experienced center-back Alexander Barboza lost possession in midfield, and the transition found Viveros on the right side of the box. He drove a low shot through goalkeeper Raul’s legs for 1-0.
How the Brasileirão Standings Shifted
Botafogo found an equalizer before halftime through Edenilson, who deflected a blocked shot home at the 42nd minute after an Alex Telles corner caused havoc. But the parity lasted barely five minutes — Esquivel launched a counter-attack behind Telles, found Dudu at the byline, and the cross arrived perfectly for Viveros to score his second at the 47th minute.
The second half was one-way traffic. Esquivel whipped a free kick from the halfway area that found Aguirre’s head at the near post just three minutes after the restart. The same Esquivel sealed the rout at 36 minutes with a curling free kick that appeared to deceive Raul, looping over the goalkeeper and into the net.
Botafogo’s Crisis Deepens
The defeat was Botafogo‘s first match under interim coach Rodrigo Bellão, the under-20 manager who took charge after Argentine Martín Anselmi was fired on March 22. Anselmi lasted just 90 days and 18 matches — seven wins, two draws, nine defeats — before owner John Textor pulled the trigger despite a win over Red Bull Bragantino the previous day.
The problems extend beyond the dugout. Botafogo served a transfer ban from December 2025 to February 2026, was eliminated in the Libertadores preliminary round by Barcelona de Guayaquil, and faces a financial investigation by Brazil’s football regulator Anresf into the SAF’s management under Textor. The club is now searching for a permanent coach, with names such as Hernán Crespo, Vojvoda, Tite, and Fernando Diniz reportedly on the shortlist.
What Comes Next
Botafogo has one game in hand — a postponed fourth-round match against Vitória with no date set — which offers slim consolation. Both teams return for the ninth round on Wednesday: Botafogo hosts Mirassol at the Nilton Santos stadium, while Athletico travels to Salvador to face Bahia.
At the top, Palmeiras hold first place with 19 points from eight matches and the league’s best attack with 17 goals. For Botafogo — last year’s champions now staring at relegation amid a broader crisis in Brazilian corporate governance — the question is no longer about titles but about survival.
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