Furacão Unleashed: Athletico-PR Smash Botafogo 4-1 to Storm into Brasileirão Top Two

Picture this: a balmy evening in Curitiba, Arena da Baixada rocking like it's carnival season, and Athletico-PR turning Botafogo into mince. The Furacão didn't just win – they obliterated their visitors 4-1 in this postponed Round 5 clash of the Brasileirão. By the end, fans were belting out 'olé' chants, and São Paulo got shoved out of second place. What a statement.

As reported by Gazeta Press via OneFootball, this thrashing on 29 March 2026 lit a fire under the league table. Athletico-PR now sit pretty on 16 points, nicking second on goal difference. Botafogo? They're languishing on six points in 17th, staring down the barrel of the drop zone. Ouch.

Goals Galore: Viveros the Hero, Botafogo in Bits

It took just three minutes for the home side to strike. Alexander Barboza fluffed his clearance, and Colombian speedster Viveros pounced like a cat on a laser pointer. He tore down the right, waltzed into the box, and slotted it cheekily through Raul's legs. 1-0, and the stadium erupted.

Botafogo weren't going down without a scrap. They peppered Santos with efforts from Montoro, Arthur Cabral, and Medina, finally pulling level in the 42nd minute. Alex Telles whipped in a corner, Barboza flicked on, and Edenilson nodded home from point-blank range. Game on, right?

Wrong. Athletico-PR hit back before the break. Dudu skinned his man on the right and floated a cross that Viveros ghosted in to bury at the back post. 2-1 at half-time, and you could sense the visitors' shoulders dropping.

Second half? Pure domination. Four minutes in, Esquivel curled in a free-kick, and Juan Felipe Aguirre soared like a salmon to head home. 3-1. Then, in the 35th minute, Esquivel again, this time bending a beauty into the top corner from a free-kick. 4-1. Botafogo looked like they'd rather be anywhere else.

No reds, but yellows flew: Luiz Gustavo, Arthur Dias for the hosts; Medina, Barboza, Júnior Santos for the away lot. Ref Paulo Cesar Zanovelli da Silva kept it tight, with VAR backing him up.

Lineups and Tactical Tidbits

Athletico-PR lined up in their classic red-and-black: Santos in goal; Benavídez, Aguirre, Arthur Dias (later Terán), and Esquivel at the back; midfield engine room of Luiz Gustavo, Jadson, and Dudu (subbed for Portilla); attack led by Julimar (off for Zapelli), Viveros ( Renan Peixoto), and Mendoza ( Léo Derik). Boss Odair Hellmann had them firing on all cylinders.

Botafogo, under Rodrigo Bellão, went with Raul behind Vitinho, Bastos, Barboza, and Alex Telles; Edenilson ( Barrera), Medina, Santi Rodríguez ( Villalba), Montoro; Matheus Martins ( Júnior Santos) and Arthur Cabral ( Nathan Fernandes). Solid on paper, but they crumbled under pressure.

Athletico-PR pressed high, exploited flanks, and made Botafogo chase shadows. The visitors had moments but lacked punch – like bringing a knife to a flamethrower party.

Table Talk and What's Next

This win catapults Athletico-PR above São Paulo into second, keeping the title race spicier than a vindaloo. Botafogo's woes deepen; first in the relegation scrap, and momentum's not on their side.

Looking ahead: Athletico-PR head to Salvador on Wednesday 1 April for Bahia away at Arena Fonte Nova (8pm Brasília time), Round 9. Botafogo host Mirassol at Nilton Santos same night, 7:30pm kick-off. Win there, or the pressure mounts.

If you're a Furacão fan, crack open the beers – this lot are flying. Botafogo supporters? Time to rally. The Brasileirão never sleeps.