Cruzeiro EC - Botafogo FR live - Football

On Sunday, 26 July 2026, at 20:00 BST, Cruzeiro EC host Botafogo FR at the iconic Mineirão stadium in Belo Horizonte in a Brasileirão Betano clash between two sides separated by just one place in the table - Cruzeiro 11th, Botafogo 12th. Both sides are fighting to climb away from mid-table mediocrity, and history gives Cruzeiro the edge: they have won 3 of the last 5 head-to-head encounters, though Botafogo inflicted a humbling 4-0 defeat on the hosts earlier this season.

Match Info: Cruzeiro EC vs Botafogo FR

Cruzeiro EC take on Botafogo FR on Sunday, 26 July 2026, at 20:00 BST (19:00 UTC) at the Estádio Governador Magalhães Pinto - known as the Mineirão - in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. The fixture is part of the 2026 Brasileirão Betano, the top tier of Brazilian professional football.

Where to Watch Cruzeiro EC vs Botafogo FR?

Viewers in the United Kingdom and Ireland can watch this match on Premier Sports 2 on television, or stream it live via Premier Sports Player online. Both platforms carry the full Brasileirão coverage for subscribers across the British Isles.

In Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, the match is available on DAZN as a streaming option. German and Austrian television subscribers can also find it on sportdigital FUSSBALL, which is likewise available to viewers in Switzerland alongside the online option Blue Sport. Portuguese fans can tune in via Canal 11 on free-to-air television.

Across the Americas, Brazilian fans are spoiled for choice: Rede Globo and Premiere carry the match on television, while online viewers can access it through Claro TV+, Globoplay, VIVO Play, or Zapping. In the United States, Fanatiz USA holds the rights, and fans worldwide can also subscribe to Fanatiz Brasileirão for international streaming access.

Match between Cruzeiro EC and Botafogo FR - Preview

The meeting of Cruzeiro and Botafogo brings together two sides locked in the congested mid-table of the 2026 Brasileirão, with the home advantage and a historically dominant H2H record making Cruzeiro the slight favourites on paper.

Under coach Artur Jorge, who took charge at the Mineirão in late March 2026, Cruzeiro have shown encouraging signs of consistency. Their most recent competitive result was a 2-1 away victory at Internacional on 23 July - a high-quality result against one of the more established clubs in the division. Earlier in the campaign, Cruzeiro reached the Round of 16 of the Copa Libertadores and produced a dominant 4-0 dismantling of Barcelona SC in that competition. Jorge's side will be eager to translate their away form into a convincing home performance.

Botafogo, managed by Martín Anselmi, arrive at the Mineirão with something to prove. Their last Série A outing was a 2-1 home win over Santos on 16 July - an encouraging result that helped erase the memory of a 2-1 loss at Bahia in late May. The two friendly matches against Dynamo Kyiv and CSKA Moscow during the summer break produced no recorded scores, leaving the exact state of Botafogo's preparation somewhat uncertain. What is certain is that Anselmi's side will need a sharper attacking display than they managed in Salvador if they are to leave Belo Horizonte with anything.

Head-to-Head: Cruzeiro EC vs Botafogo FR

The head-to-head record between these two clubs strongly favours Cruzeiro, who have won 10 of 23 documented meetings compared to Botafogo's 3 victories and 10 draws - yet the rivalry is far from predictable, as Botafogo's 4-0 hammering of Cruzeiro in January 2026 demonstrated emphatically.

Here are the last 5 meetings between Cruzeiro EC and Botafogo FR:

• 30 January 2026 - Brasileirão Betano - Botafogo 4:0 Cruzeiro
• 4 December 2025 - Brasileirão Betano - Cruzeiro 2:2 Botafogo
• 3 August 2025 - Brasileirão Betano - Botafogo 0:2 Cruzeiro
• 28 July 2024 - Brasileirão Betano - Botafogo 0:3 Cruzeiro
• 14 April 2024 - Brasileirão Betano - Cruzeiro 3:2 Botafogo

Cruzeiro EC - Recent Form

Cruzeiro enter this fixture on solid footing, winning 3 of their last 5 matches with results, drawing 1 and losing 1, as they look to extend their momentum at the Mineirão.

The standout result in their recent run is the 2-1 victory at Internacional on 23 July - an away win that reaffirmed Cruzeiro's capacity to compete against quality opponents. Before the summer break, the club also demonstrated their continental ambitions by thrashing Barcelona SC 4-0 in the Copa Libertadores, a result that underlined the attacking quality at Artur Jorge's disposal. Their only Série A blemish in that stretch was a 1-1 draw at home to Fluminense on 31 May.

The summer friendlies offered a mixed picture: Cruzeiro defeated Defensor Sporting 2-0 in a controlled performance, but suffered a 1-3 reverse against Grêmio. Results in pre-season warm-ups rarely translate directly to competitive form, and on home soil, with their own fans behind them, Cruzeiro will be aiming to demonstrate why the Mineirão has historically been such a hostile ground for visiting sides.

Botafogo FR - Recent Form

Botafogo's competitive results heading into this fixture show 2 wins and 1 loss from 3 matches with recorded scores, with 2 friendly results unavailable - making their current fitness and sharpness somewhat difficult to gauge.

Their last Série A match was a 2-1 home win over Santos on 16 July, which was a positive response to the 2-1 defeat at Bahia on 30 May. In the Copa Sudamericana, Botafogo produced an impressive 3-1 away win at Caracas FC on 27 May, showing that the side can produce quality performances on the road in South America. Their travelling record in the Brasileirão this season, however, has been less convincing.

Martín Anselmi's squad spent part of the summer break in Europe, playing behind closed doors against Dynamo Kyiv and CSKA Moscow. Without confirmed scores, it is impossible to judge what those games delivered in terms of preparation. What Botafogo do know is that the Mineirão is one of Brazil's most atmospheric venues, and arriving as the away side - particularly given their 4-0 win there earlier this season - the visitors will carry no fear into this fixture.

Facts and Statistics

The rivalry between Cruzeiro EC and Botafogo FR is one of Brazilian football's enduring cross-regional encounters, pitting the pride of Minas Gerais against one of Rio de Janeiro's most storied clubs. Historically, the balance of power has tilted clearly towards Cruzeiro.

• In 23 documented meetings, Cruzeiro have won 10 times, Botafogo 3 times, with 10 draws - a record that clearly demonstrates Cruzeiro's dominance in this fixture.
• Cruzeiro have scored 33 goals in those 23 meetings; Botafogo have managed 22 - an 11-goal difference in Cruzeiro's favour across the sample.
• Botafogo's 4-0 win over Cruzeiro on 30 January 2026 was jointly the biggest home win of the entire 2026 Brasileirão season at that point.
• Cruzeiro's Mineirão has a capacity of over 66,000, making it one of the largest stadiums in Brazilian football and one of the most intimidating venues in South America.
• Cruzeiro competed on three fronts in 2026: the Série A, Copa do Brasil (Round of 16), and the Copa Libertadores (also Round of 16).