Botafogo Beats Bahia at Nilton Santos to Break into the G-4
Botafogo secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Bahia at Estádio Nilton Santos on Wednesday (1/10/2025), ending a lengthy drought against the northeastern club and finally punching its ticket into the Brasileirão G-4 with 43 points. Santi Rodríguez and Jeffinho scored for the Glorioso, while Rodrigo Nestor got Bahia’s consolation.
The result came as relief for Botafogo after Mirassol’s earlier draw with Red Bull Bragantino kept the battle for the top spots tight. With the draw, Mirassol stayed on 43 points but trailed Botafogo on wins, while Bahia remained on 40, dropping to sixth in the table.
First half: a tactical start and a clinical finish
The match began with both sides studying each other, but Botafogo gradually imposed its rhythm, pressing hard on the right flank. The first clear chance arrived in the 25th minute when Marlon Freitas played Vitinho through, the cross was cleared off the line by Ronaldo and Cuiabano blasted home to force a superb save from the Bahia keeper in the follow-up.
Moments later, Botafogo took the lead in a similar fashion. A slick pass from Marlon Freitas found Vitinho, who pulled the ball back for Santi Rodríguez to hammer into the far corner. The ball hit the post and went in, giving the captain a deserved opener and sending the home fans into a cheer. At 33, Santi produced another no-look moment with a long ball to Vitinho, who controlled on his chest and volleyed narrowly wide, missing a further opportunity to extend the lead.
As the half progressed, Savarino tested Ronaldo with a precise free-kick, but the Bahia keeper held firm. The Brazilians pressed for a second before the break, and Bahia nearly equalized when Rezende released Zé Guilherme behind the defense and he struck the post, leaving Botafogo with a slender advantage at half-time.
Second half: a fast start and a tense finish
Hot out of the break, Botafogo doubled the lead in just 21 seconds. Savarino delivered from the right, Cuiabano cut the ball back, and Jeffinho tapped in from close range for his first goal of the season after returning to the starting lineup.
Bahia hit back in the 9th minute, when Rodrigo Nestor curled a free-kick that deflected off Botafogo defender Kaio Pantaleão and wrong-footed Léo Linck. The home side, seeking to clinch the win, saw an immediate setback as Sanabria picked up a second yellow card and was dismissed, reducing the visitors to ten men and shifting the balance further in Botafogo’s favor.
Closing stages: control and caution
With 11 versus 10, Botafogo controlled the tempo and limited Bahia’s attempts. The visitors did threaten with a late free-kick and a couple of half-chances, but the Glorioso defended resolutely, with Linck commanded to make a handful of key saves. Although Botafogo rued a few counter-attacks that could have been more clinical, the final whistle confirmed a crucial win that strengthened their grip on a spot inside the G-4.
What this win means for Botafogo
The victory is a confidence booster for Botafogo as they prepare for a tough run of fixtures. Moving into the top four is a significant milestone in Carlo Ancelotti’s squad’s campaign, signaling that the team has the resilience and focus needed to navigate the remainder of Brasileirão Série A. The goals from Santi Rodríguez and Jeffinho highlighted the team’s attacking depth, while the defensive resilience after Sanabria’s red card demonstrated mental strength in trying circumstances.
Next fixtures
Botafogo travels to Porto Alegre to face Internacional on Saturday, October 4, at Beira-Rio, kick-off 18:30 local time. After the international break, the Brasileirão resumes on October 15 with a high-profile home clash against Flamengo at Estádio Nilton Santos, scheduled for 19:30.
FICHA TÉCNICA
Match: BOTAFOGO 2 x 1 BAHIA
Stadium: Nilton Santos
Date-Time: 01/10/2025 – 21:30
Referee: Felipe Fernandes de Lima (MG) • Assistants: Felipe Alan Costa de Oliveira (MG) e Celso Luiz da Silva (MG)
VAR: Thiago Duarte Peixoto (SP)
Attendance: 7.461 pagantes (R$ 303.460,00)
Yellow cards: Cuiabano, Davide Ancelotti, Alexander Barboza, Allan, David Ricardo (BOT); Santi Arias, Sanabria, Luciano Juba, Rodrigo Nestor, Gabriel Xavier (BAH)
Red cards: Sanabria (BAH) — 13’ 2ºT
Gols: Santi Rodríguez 26’ 1ºT (1-0), Jeffinho 0’ 2ºT (2-0), Rodrigo Nestor 9’ 2ºT (2-1)
