About six months ago, Artur Jorge made his debut in charge of Botafogo with a 1-0 defeat to LDU, in Quito. At that time, in a complicated situation in Group D of the Libertadores and still experiencing the traumas of 2023, it was difficult to imagine that that team would reach the Libertadores final, but that is what happened this Wednesday (30).
To reach the historic decision, the Portuguese coach led a “turn of the page” at the club, which toppled a series of ghosts and serial champions throughout the campaign.
The Libertadores decision will take place on November 30, at the Monumental Stadium, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The rival will be Atlético, who seeks to conquer America for the second time.
The teams eliminated by Botafogo in the Libertadores knockout stage:
- Palmeiras, three-time champion of America
- São Paulo, three-time champion of America
- Peñarol, five-time champion of America
The historic campaign in the Libertadores
Artur Jorge’s debut was precisely in the group stage of the Libertadores. After dismissing Tiago Nunes at the beginning of 2024, Glorioso had advanced in the preliminary phase, in dramatic fashion, against Bragantino. Still in the first round of Group D, they lost to Junior Barranquilla, at Nilton Santos, under the command of interim Fábio Matias.
The defeat to LDU, in Quito, Ecuador, left Botafogo in a dramatic situation in the group. With no points in two rounds, the team was “considered dead” by public opinion – a fact that was recalled by the Portuguese coach in the latest classifications, especially after the defeat of Peñarol, at Nilton Santos.
Botafogo is a Libertadores finalist: remember, game by game, the historic campaign
Botafogo lost 3-1 to Peñarol, in Uruguay, but secured the unprecedented Libertadores final
Vítor Silva/Botafogo
Botafogo lost 3-1 to Peñarol, in Uruguay, but secured the unprecedented Libertadores final
Vítor Silva/Botafogo
Botafogo 5×0 Peñarol, at Nilton Santos – First leg of the Libertadores semi-final
Vítor Silva/Botafogo
Aurora 1×1 Botafogo, at Municipal Félix Capriles – First leg of the first preliminary round
Vítor Silva/Botafogo
Botafogo 5×0 Peñarol, at Nilton Santos – First leg of the Libertadores semi-final
Vítor Silva/Botafogo
São Paulo 1(4)x(5)1 Botafogo, at Morumbis – Libertadores quarter-final return game
Vítor Silva/Botafogo
São Paulo 1(4)x(5)1 Botafogo, at Morumbis – Libertadores quarter-final return game
Vítor Silva/Botafogo
Botafogo 0x0 São Paulo, at Nilton Santos – First leg of the Libertadores quarter-finals
Vítor Silva/Botafogo
Botafogo 0x0 São Paulo, at Nilton Santos – First leg of the Libertadores quarter-finals
Vítor Silva/Botafogo
Palmeiras 2×2 Botafogo, at Nilton Santos – Return game from the round of 16 of the Libertadores
Vítor Silva/Botafogo
Palmeiras 2×2 Botafogo, at Allianz Parque – Return game from the round of 16 of the Libertadores
Vítor Silva/Botafogo
Botafogo 2×1 Palmeiras, at Nilton Santos – First game of the round of 16 of the Libertadores
Vítor Silva/Botafogo
Botafogo 2×1 Palmeiras, at Nilton Santos – First game of the round of 16 of the Libertadores
Vítor Silva/Botafogo
Junior Barranquilla 0x0 Botafogo, at Metropolitano – Game from the sixth round of the group stage
Vítor Silva/Botafogo
Junior Barranquilla 0x0 Botafogo, at Metropolitano – Game from the sixth round of the group stage
Vítor Silva/Botafogo
Universitario 0x1 Botafogo, at Monumental de Lima – Match from the fifth round of the group stage
Vítor Silva/Botafogo
Universitario 0x1 Botafogo, at Monumental de Lima – Match from the fifth round of the group stage
Vítor Silva/Botafogo
Botafogo 2×1 LDU, at Nilton Santos – Game of the fourth round of the group stage
Vítor Silva/Botafogo
Botafogo 2×1 LDU, at Nilton Santos – Game of the fourth round of the group stage
Vítor Silva/Botafogo
Botafogo 3×1 Universitario, at Nilton Santos – Game from the third round of the group stage
Vitor_Silva
Botafogo 3×1 Universitario, at Nilton Santos – Game from the third round of the group stage
Vitor_Silva
LDU 1×0 Botafogo, at Rodrigo Paz Delgado – Second round game of the group stage
Vítor Silva/Botafogo
LDU 1×0 Botafogo, at Rodrigo Paz Delgado – Second round game of the group stage
Vítor Silva/Botafogo
Botafogo 1×3 Junior Barranquilla, at Nilton Santos – First round game of the group stage
Vítor Silva/Botafogo
Botafogo 1×3 Junior Barranquilla, at Nilton Santos – First round game of the group stage
Vítor Silva/Botafogo
Bragantino 1×1 Botafogo, at Nabi Abi Chedid – Second preliminary round game
Vítor Silva/Botafogo
Bragantino 1×1 Botafogo, at Nabi Abi Chedid – Second preliminary round game
Vítor Silva/Botafogo
Botafogo 2×1 Bragantino, at Nilton Santos – First leg of the second preliminary phase
Vítor Silva/Botafogo
Botafogo 2×1 Bragantino, at Nilton Santos – First leg of the second preliminary phase
Vítor Silva/Botafogo
Botafogo 6×0 Aurora, at Nilton Santos – Return game from the first preliminary round
Vítor Silva/Botafogo
Botafogo 6×0 Aurora, at Nilton Santos – Return game from the first preliminary round
Vítor Silva/Botafogo
Aurora 1×1 Botafogo, at Municipal Félix Capriles – First leg of the first preliminary round
Vítor Silva/Botafogo
Peñarol 3×1 Botafogo, at Centenario – Libertadores semi-final return game
Vítor Silva/Botafogo
Peñarol 3×1 Botafogo, at Centenario – Libertadores semi-final return game
Vítor Silva/Botafogo
As second place in the group and among the worst campaigns among those classified, Botafogo already knew that, to reach the final, they would have to survive the decisions as a visitor every time.
At home, the team had the support of the fans and made the “Nilton Santos factor” count. Games at Allianz Parque, Morumbis and Centenario scared away the ghosts that chased the 2023 team.
There were moments when Botafogo flirted with memories, conceding goals in stoppage time, but, Just like in other games for the Brasileirão, the team’s reaction on the field was different.
Finalist in the Libertadores, Artur Jorge’s team is also in contention for the Brazilian Championship title. Before the decision with Galo, there are “five finals” for Series A. See the full table!
