Rafael Nogueira
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Botafogo – RJ host Grêmio – RS in the Brazilian Serie A on Wednesday 16 September 2026, and the predicted lineups for this one highlight two coaches who have leaned on largely the same faces all the way through their last six outings. Rodrigo Bellão’s 4-2-3-1 and Luís Castro’s 4-1-4-1 are built from very different shapes, yet both projections settle on a core group that has barely changed, so the contrast here is less about who starts and more about how each side is set up to attack. What follows is our expected XI for both teams, built purely from recent selection patterns rather than any official team news.
Botafogo – RJ Predicted XI
Bellão is expected to stick with the 4-2-3-1 that is described as his preferred formation, built around a settled group after six matches used to construct the projection. The side looks largely settled, with 9 of the projected XI starting their last match, which points to a manager who has found a template he trusts. Vitinho has started all six matches used here and Álvaro Montoro matches that record, and both look set to anchor their respective flank and the number ten role again. Elsewhere the midfield trio in front of them has rotated only lightly, giving this predicted lineup a settled look up and down the pitch.
Botafogo – RJ predicted XI: Gabriel Batista; Vitinho, Alex Telles, Lucas Monzon, Gabriel Justino; Álvaro Montoro, Huguinho, Danilo dos Santos de Oliveira, Lucas Villalba, Cristian Medina; Danilo
| Line | # | Player | Starts in last 6 | Last 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | 12 | Gabriel Batista | 4/6 | 3/3 |
| D | 2 | Vitinho | 6/6 | 3/3 |
| D | 13 | Alex Telles | 5/6 | 2/3 |
| D | 33 | Lucas Monzon | 3/6 | 2/3 |
| D | 34 | Gabriel Justino | 3/6 | 1/3 |
| M | 10 | Álvaro Montoro | 6/6 | 3/3 |
| M | 75 | Huguinho | 5/6 | 3/3 |
| M | 8 | Danilo dos Santos de Oliveira | 5/6 | 3/3 |
| M | 77 | Lucas Villalba | 2/6 | 2/3 |
| M | 6 | Cristian Medina | 3/6 | 0/3 |
| F | 9 | Danilo | 4/6 | 2/3 |
Predicted Grêmio – RS Line-up
Luís Castro’s preferred 4-1-4-1 forms the base of the away projection, again drawn from the last six matches used for this club. Grêmio – RS also look largely settled, with 9 of the projected XI starting their last match, underlining how little Castro has needed to change his group recently. Weverton Pereira da Silva has started every one of the six matches used and Wallace Gomes da Silva Santos has done the same at the back, making both about as close to certainties as this kind of projection allows. The rest of the expected XI, from the double pivot through to the front line, has featured heavily too, reinforcing the sense of a settled Grêmio – RS side heading into this trip.
Grêmio – RS predicted XI: Weverton Pereira da Silva; Wallace Gomes da Silva Santos, Diego Caito Barcellos Oliveira dos Santos, Walter Kannemann, Gustavo Martins; Filip Krovinović, Mathias Villasanti, Erick Noriega, Cristian Pavón, Tetê; Carlos Vinícius
| Line | # | Player | Starts in last 6 | Last 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | 1 | Weverton Pereira da Silva | 6/6 | 3/3 |
| D | 82 | Wallace Gomes da Silva Santos | 6/6 | 3/3 |
| D | 27 | Diego Caito Barcellos Oliveira dos Santos | 5/6 | 3/3 |
| D | 4 | Walter Kannemann | 3/6 | 2/3 |
| D | 53 | Gustavo Martins | 2/6 | 1/3 |
| M | 10 | Filip Krovinović | 6/6 | 3/3 |
| M | 20 | Mathias Villasanti | 6/6 | 3/3 |
| M | 8 | Erick Noriega | 5/6 | 3/3 |
| M | 7 | Cristian Pavón | 4/6 | 2/3 |
| M | 21 | Tetê | 3/6 | 2/3 |
| F | 95 | Carlos Vinícius | 4/6 | 3/3 |
Team News and Confirmed Absentees
Kaio is out injured, while Kadir Barría and Nahuel Ferraresi are unavailable through suspension, which leaves Bellão’s back line and forward options thinner than usual heading into this match. Marçal and Warleson Steillon Oliveira, both with two starts across the matches used here, look the most experienced bench cover for the defensive gap, while Arthur Cabral’s four starts make him the obvious deputy up front if Danilo needs support or replacing.
| Player | Pos | Status | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kadir Barría | F | suspended | Yellow card suspension |
| Nahuel Ferraresi | D | suspended | Yellow card suspension |
| Kaio | D | injured | Jumpers knee |
Dodi is out injured, while Marlon and Pedro Gabriel are unavailable through suspension, a combination that thins both Grêmio – RS’s midfield and defensive options for this trip. Francis Amuzu, with three starts among the matches used, and Wagner Leonardo look the likeliest bench options to step into the side and cover those gaps.
| Player | Pos | Status | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marlon | D | suspended | Inactive |
| Pedro Gabriel | suspended | Yellow card suspension | |
| Dodi | M | injured | Jumpers knee |
How These Line-ups Were Picked
Each predicted lineup on this page was built from the last six matches used for that club, with more recent matches weighted more heavily than older ones when judging who is likely to start. Any player confirmed injured or suspended was removed from contention before the XI was assembled. This is a projection, not an announcement, and it will be updated if the official team news changes the picture before kickoff.
Read also: Botafogo RJ vs Gremio Prediction: 17.09.2026 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A
Read also: Botafogo – RJ vs Grêmio – RS Head-to-Head: Record, Stats & Form (Updated September 2026)
FAQ
Who is predicted to start in goal for Botafogo – RJ vs Grêmio – RS?
Gabriel Batista is projected to start in goal for Botafogo – RJ, while Weverton Pereira da Silva is the expected choice between the posts for Grêmio – RS.
What formation are Botafogo – RJ and Grêmio – RS expected to use?
Botafogo – RJ are projected to line up in a 4-2-3-1, Rodrigo Bellão’s preferred shape, while Grêmio – RS are expected in Luís Castro’s preferred 4-1-4-1.
Who is unavailable for Botafogo – RJ vs Grêmio – RS?
Botafogo – RJ are without Kaio through injury and Kadir Barría and Nahuel Ferraresi through suspension, while Grêmio – RS are missing Dodi through injury and Marlon and Pedro Gabriel through suspension.
When does Botafogo – RJ vs Grêmio – RS kick off?
The Brazilian Serie A fixture between Botafogo – RJ and Grêmio – RS kicks off on Wednesday 16 September 2026.