Atletico Madrid vs Botafogo Prediction: A crunch decider in Group B

Not many people would have predicted Botafogo being top of the standings in Group B of the Fifa Club World Cup heading into the final game but here we are. The Brazilian side face Atletico Madrid at the Rose Bowl on Monday (20:00 BST, DAZN) in what is a crunch game for the Spanish outfit. Diego Simeone's side defeated Seattle Sounders 3-1 last time out to respond from their drubbing against Paris-Saint-Germain in their opening fixture.

Thankfully they don't need to worry about goal difference here as the standings are decided by head-to-head records - so if they win, they go through. Read on for my Atletico Madrid vs Botafogo predictions, accompanied by the latest team news and match odds.

Football Odds

Team News

Atletico Madrid boss Simeone is likely to call upon the experience of Antoine Griezmann for this showdown, and the Frenchman would be set to link up with Julian Alvarez up front. Alexander Sorloth may drop down to the bench as a result but he is a very dangerous player to bring on during the match.

Midfielder Pablo Barrios netted a brace against the Sounders last time out and he has surely cemented his place in the engine room for this contest - to the disappointment of Conor Gallagher and others.

Clement Lenglet is back from his one-game suspension but he is not guaranteed an immediate return to the XI given how Jose Maria Gimenez fared alongside Robin Le Normand in the previous match.

Atletico Madrid Club World Cup Preview

Botafogo Club World Cup Preview

Botafogo have on foot in the knockout stage and could end up progressing as group winners if they avoid defeat against Atleti. Igor Jesus, who looks set to move to Nottingham Forest this summer, was drafted into the lineup against PSG to great avail, netting the sole goal of the game.

He looks likely to keep his place up front, holding off Gonzalo Mastriani who started the first fixture.

Cuiabano, another Forest target, was able to shake off a back problem to feature from the bench against PSG, offering the Fogo an attacking dynamic from left-back. Matheus Martins and ex-Lyon winger Jeffinho are both ruled out for the Brazilian outfit.

Atletico Madrid vs Botafogo Odds

Atletico Madrid have won four of their last six matches and they are priced at 4/6 to prevail here.

The draw is marketed at 14/5. Botafogo are 24/5 (which has an implied probability of 17.2%) to come away with the victory, having won their past five games, including European champions PSG last time out.

Both teams have been involved in one match at the Club World Cup so far which has featured goals at both ends, and BTTS is available at 4/5 on this occasion.

Barrios, Atleti's brace-scoring midfielder against Seattle Sounders, is 13/2 to strike anytime on Monday.

Julian Alvarez anytime goalscorer @ 11/10

Despite having a strong first season in red and white, we are yet to see Alvaraz take off at the CWC. The Argentine has technically found the net but as we know it was ruled out by VAR against PSG in the first fixture.

The former Manchester City man has provided 29 goals for Simeone's side in all competitions this season and his team are going to look to him for inspiration in this crunch clash as their future at this tournament is in doubt.

Alvarez has the quality to have a huge say in this match but he does face a tough test in a stubborn Botafogo defence who kept free-scoring PSG at bay last time out.

The forward and his fellow attackers are going to have to move the ball quickly and precisely if they are to break their opponents down but given what's at stake, I think a few chances will come his way - and I'm backing him to convert at least one of them.

Today's Football Fixtures

Both teams to score @ 4/5

Botafogo have shown already that they are a force to be reckoned with at the Club World Cup and their triumph over PSG has fired a warning to Europe's other best offerings in the USA this summer.

The Fogo have the chance to seal their place as group winners to earn a more favourable draw in the knockout stage, and their players will be up for the challenge. I think given the jeopardy on offer in this clash, I think backing both teams to score is a smart play here.

Both teams have already been involved in a match at this tournament in which both sides found the net and Botafogo have shown their clinical edge with their 1-0 victory over PSG.

Atletico Madrid demonstrated their attacking capabilities against Seattle Sounders but there is no denying they are facing a much tougher opponent this time around. And for as much as Simeone and his players pride themselves on being defensively organised, they have been shaky to say the least in Group B thus far.

They have conceded five goals in two matches and this vulnerability they are currently showing, only helps the BTTS cause. While on the attacking side, they simply need to go into this match all guns blazing as their CWC future depends on it.

Offers

Acca Flex: Place a pre-match 5+ leg Football accumulator and get a CASH bonus up to 100% if all of your selections win or your money back as CASH if one leg lets you down.

You can read all our latest Football Betting Tips at our dedicated Betfred Insights content hub