Botafogo started off really strong and bagged 47 out of 57 points in the first half of the 2023 Brazilian League. That leveled Corinthians’ numbers in 2017 as the best ever recorded since the league has adopted a round-robin format.

History suggested that 26 points in the second half would secure them the trophy, and this showed to be true. In fact, Palmeiras can only get to 72 points, meaning that Botafogo could even be champions with 25 points (depending on tie-breakers).25/26 points in 19 matches isn’t a spectacular mark. That’s just a comfortable score that sees your team have a spot next year with no further aspirations or worries.

Botafogo had built a 13 point lead to the 2nd-placer (then Grêmio)and sat at the top of the league since the 3rd round.

And now…

Al-Nassr took their coach away and they’ve already changed command twice since then. The lead melted away and the team collapsed. Botafogo lost the lead to Palmeiras with 4 rounds to go, weren’t been able to make a comeback and, with one match to go, not only are they out of the battle for the trophy, but they aren’t even in the qualifying zone that would grant them a spot at the group stage of the Taça Libertadores (as it is, they’ll have to play in the qualifiers)

Borussia Dortmund bottled the last Bundesliga, but never had such a bulky lead. Then there’s Newcastle with a 12 point lead in 1995/96 Premier League. Botafogo holds the longest win-less streak in the league right now and I invite you to check out Botafogo’s last 6 matches:

83’, Botafogo 3x1 Palmeiras - Penalty to Botafogo. Final score: 3x4

46’ Botafogo 3x1 Grêmio - Final score: 3x4. Obs.: Botafogo’s home stadium has synthetic grass, but was leased for a concert and Botafogo hosted Grêmio in São Januário, which has natural grass. Grêmio’s Luis Suárez - yes, that one - prefers not to play on synth grass because of knee injuries so would either change his game or sit on the bench. Well, Suárez played and scored a hat-trick to turn the game

95’ Red Bull Bragantino 1x2 Botafogo - Final score: 2x2

Now, Palmeiras, Grêmio and Braganitno were contenders for the trophy at the time of the matches. Regardless, the lead built in each of these games should have been confirmed with a win. Let’s move on

89’ Botafogo 1x0 Santos - Final score: 1x1

98’ Coritiba 0x1 Botafogo - Final score: 1x1 (Botafogo scored a second-to-last-minute penalty, Coritiba scored less than 30 seconds after kicking off again and the match ended)

So far, a solid case for at least 12 points here plus the Grêmio match, with a possible perfect 15 point mark. With a combination of just 7 points (e.g. winning 2 out of those 3 games against Bragantino, Santos and Coritiba, and tying with Palmeiras), they would be champions with 2 matches to play.

Finally, Botafogo drew a home 0x0 against Cruzeiro today.

Coritiba were already relegated at the time of the match, Santos are fighting relegation and still have to fight for a place in the elite in the final round and today’s 0x0 made sure that Cruzeiro won’t be relegated.

I’d like to know your views about this case and if you guys have more cases like that. To me, this is the worst case of a team meltdown that I’ve ever witnessed