Surprise table-toppers Botafogo need only a draw against third-placed Atletico Madrid in their last group game at Pasadena to progress to the last-16 stage of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025.
ATL vs BOTF Match Details
Date: Monday, 23 June 2025 / Tuesday, 24 June 2025
Time: 12:00 (PDT) / 00:30 (IST)
Venue: Rose Bowl, Pasadena
ATL vs BOTF Match Preview
After receiving a severe 4-0 thrashing by Paris Saint-Germain in their tournament opener, Atletico Madrid gained their first Club World Cup win by defeating the bottom side Seattle Sounders 3-1. Pablo Barrios sparked in the game with a double, with half-time substitute Axel Witsel managing a strike in between. However, the victory wasn’t as straightforward as it looked, as the 2022 CONCACAF Nations League winners gave a good account of themselves and pulled a goal back, threatening a comeback. Although that didn’t arrive, defensive fragilities in this tournament will keep Diego Simeone's side on the edge as they take on the Brazilian giant killers, Botafogo, in the final group game. Placed third in their group with three points, Los Colchoneros don’t have destiny in their hands to qualify for the knockouts, partly due to the goal difference that was affected severely from the opening group game. They will have to rely on Sounders to produce a miraculous performance to prevent PSG from winning, or have to win their own game by three goals to stand any chance of escaping the group. That looks tough as their opposition are coming into this fixture after beating the European Champions and are in a far more advantageous position to move into the next round. Atletico Madrid cannot afford a group stage exit from the competition, which will be another dagger to their chest following a trophyless campaign, so they have to throw it all in Pasadena.
Reigning Copa Libertadores winners Botafogo caused the shock of the tournament by beating UEFA Champions League holders PSG in the clash between two continental winners in the second Group B game. A deflected goal from the Nottingham Forest-bound star Igor Jesus after a marvellous defence-splitting ball from Jefferson Savarino and a defensive masterclass, keeping just 26% possession, was enough to secure a historic 1-0 win over the treble-making side last season. Preventing an attack that had not failed to score since the first leg of the Champions League last-16 tie against Liverpool back in March 2025, netting 12 goals in their previous three games, by restricting them to just two untroubling shots on target shows the magnitude of their performance. The result means Renato Paiva’s side is on top of their group with two wins out of two, having defeated Seattle Sounders 2-1 in their tournament opener, extending their winning streak to an impressive five games. Botafogo have a great opportunity to create more history by making another solid display at Rose Bowl against another European side, Atletico Madrid, in their final group game, with a point doing enough to secure the top spot and progress into the knockouts. Only a three-goal loss will prevent them from doing so, giving them one foot into the last-16 stage.
ATL vs BOTF Recent Form (all competitions)
ATL: LWWLW
BOTF: WWWWW
ATL vs BOTF Recent Form (CWC 2025)
ATL: LW
BOTF: WW
ATL vs BOTF Predicted Lineups
Atletico Madrid
Oblak; Llorente, Le Normand, Gimenez, Galan; Simeone, De Paul, Koke, Barrios; Sorloth, Alvarez
Botafogo
Victor; Vitinho, Cunha, Barboza, Telles; Gregore, Allan, Freitas; Artur, Jesus, Savarino
ATL vs BOTF Dream11 Match Prediction
It is an uphill task for Atletico Madrid to win by a three-goal margin against the mighty defence of Botafogo, who will be happy to scrap out a draw to solidify the top spot. We predict that it will be the case with both teams scoring in the 1-1 draw, but the one which will be disastrous for Diego Simeone's side and they will bid goodbye to the competition.
ATL vs BOTF Dream11 Team Top picks
Captain Pick: Igor Jesus
Vice-captain Pick: Julian Alvarez
Our top pick for the ATL vs BOTF Dream11 Team is Igor Jesus, who has scored six goals in his last 10 games, including back-to-back strikes in the Club World Cup 2025.
ATL vs BOTF Dream11 Team Suggestion
GK: Victor (Cr - 7.5, Pts - 61)
DEF: Llorente (Cr - 8.5, Pts - 59), Barboza (Cr - 7.5, Pts - 65), Telles (Cr - 9, Pts - 109)
MID: Simeone (Cr - 8, Pts - 60), A Guimaraes (Cr - 8, Pts - 39), Freitas (Cr - 8, Pts - 44), Barrios (Cr - 7, Pts - 153), Savarino (Cr - 8, Pts - 62)
FW: Alvarez (Cr - 9), Jesus (Cr - 8, Pts - 117)
Vice-captain: Julian Alvarez
Captain: Igor Jesus
