Atletico Madrid head into what is a must win clash against an impressive Botafogo side

23 June 2025 - 11:52 am

Atletico Madrid head into what is a must win clash against an impressive Botafogo side as they search for qualification to the knockout stages of the FIFA Club World Cup.

Atletico Madrid team news: The Sorloth conundrum

Alexander Sorloth finished the season well for Atletico and complained about a lack of starts, which is something Diego Simeone appeared to dismiss. He did come into the eleven against the Seattle Sounders.

Predicted XI (4-4-2): Oblak; Marcos Llorente, Jose Maria Gimenez, Le Normand, Javi Galan; Giuliano Simeone, De Paul, Koke, Pablo Barrios; Sorloth, Julian Alvarez.

Botafogo team news: Still no Jeffinho

Matheus Martins has returned to full fitness for Botafogo, but fellow attacking midfielder Jeffinho remains sidelined. They will likely name an unchanged eleven with Nottingham Forest-bound Jair Cunha and Igor Jesus forming a key part of their side.

Predicted XI (4-3-3): John; Vitinho, Jair Cunha, Alexander Barboza, Telles; Allan, Gregore, Freitas; Artur, Igor Jesus, Jefferson Savarino.

Key stats

  • Atlético have won five of their last eight matches in all competitions (W5 D1 L2).
  • Atlético have registered at least three goals in five of their last ten matches in all competitions.
  • Botafogo have won their last five competitive matches and kept three clean sheets during that time.
  • Igor Jesus has scored five goals in his last seven appearances for Botafogo in all competitions.
  • Against Seattle, Atleti’s Pablo Barrios became the first Spanish player to get his name on the scoresheet twice in a FIFA Club World Cup™ match. At the age of 22 years and four days, he also became the youngest player to score twice in a FIFA Club World Cup™ fixture.
  • Botafogo’s Joaquín Correa played six times against Atlético when he was a Sevilla player for two seasons (2016/17 and 2017/18). He scored in two of those matches.
  • Botafogo’s Danilo Barbosa featured twice against Atlético when he was on loan at Valencia in the 2015/16 season.
  • Botafogo’s Brazil international Alex Telles spent the 2022/23 season in Spain at Sevilla, with whom he won the UEFA Europa League. He was a substitute in a 6-1 La Liga defeat away to Atlético in March 2023. Telles was also in the Manchester United side that lost to Atlético in the 2021/22 UEFA Champions League round of 16, appearing as a substitute in the first leg in Madrid (1-1) and starting the second leg at Old Trafford (0-1).