Rubber bullets fired before Flamengo vs Botafogo classic
Flamengo and Botafogo face off Sunday at 4 p.m. Brasília time at the Maracanã in Round 25 of the 2026 Brasileirão. Watch on TV Globo, Premiere, ge tv, or Globoplay. Military police fired rubber bullets to break up a scuffle among Botafogo supporters outside the stadium before the flamengo botafogo clash kicked off.
The pre-match chaos adds a volatile edge to one of Brazil's fiercest derbies. Nearly 60,000 tickets were sold, and both clubs arrive with urgent league ambitions after recent setbacks.
Key Takeaways
- Police used rubber bullets to disperse Botafogo fans after a scuffle outside the Maracanã before kickoff.
- Flamengo vs Botafogo starts at 4 p.m. Brasília time; TV Globo, Premiere, ge tv, and Globoplay carry the match.
- Probable starters include Pedro and Arrascaeta for Flamengo; Arthur Cabral and Danilo Pereira for Botafogo.
- Flamengo sits second with 45 points; Botafogo is 12th with 30 after three straight losses.
- Referee Alex Gomes Stefano (RJ) officiates the classic.
What happened before kickoff at the Maracanã?
Botafogo supporters arriving for the classic triggered a brief stampede near the stadium entrances on Sunday afternoon, according to A Tribuna RJ. Military police intervened and fired rubber bullets to disperse the group involved in the tension.
After the intervention, entry flow returned to normal under reinforced security. The incident unfolded hours before the two Rio rivals met in a match with major table implications.
Pre-game tension at big derbies is nothing new, but rubber-bullet deployments outside a sold-out Maracanã underscore how high the stakes feel for both fan bases. For more offbeat stories from around the world, browse our Bizarre News & Florida Man hub.
Where can you watch Flamengo vs Botafogo live?
The classic airs on TV Globo, Premiere, and ge tv, with streaming available through ge.globo and Globoplay, per ge. The ge platform also offers real-time match coverage with exclusive video.
Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. Brasília time (16h) on Sunday, August 30, 2026, at the Maracanã. Pre-match entertainment includes a performance by singer Dudu Nobre alongside the Charanga Rubro-Negra.
Who is in the probable lineups?
Flamengo (Leonardo Jardim): Rossi; Royal, Léo Ortiz, Léo Pereira, Ayrton Lucas; Pulgar, Jorginho, Arrascaeta; Carrascal (or Paquetá), Samuel Lino, Pedro. Léo Pereira returns after rest; Plata was sold to Dynamo Moscow, opening a spot for Carrascal, Luiz Araújo, or Paquetá.
Flamengo absences include Bruno Henrique (suspended) and Alex Sandro, Vitão, and De la Cruz (injured). Several players carry yellow-card risk, including Pulgar, Paquetá, and Samuel Lino.
Botafogo (Rodrigo Bellão): Gabriel Batista; Vitinho, Ferraresi, Justino, Telles; Huguinho, Medina, Danilo, Montoro; Arthur Cabral, Danilo Pereira. Danilo returns from muscle discomfort; Huguinho rejoins the starting XI; Arthur Cabral is back from suspension.
Botafogo is without Kaio Pantaleão, Paulinho, and Barrera. Multiple starters are one booking away from suspension.
Why does this Brasileirão clash matter so much?
Flamengo, second with 45 points, chases leader Palmeiras after a 13-match unbeaten run ended with defeat at Cruzeiro. Pedro leads the league with 15 goals. The rubro-negro has not lost any of its last five home games across all competitions.
Botafogo sits 12th with 30 points after three losses and a Copa Sudamericana exit to Cienciano. The alvinegro has not beaten Flamengo in the last three meetings and trails 38-15-29 in the last 82 head-to-head games. Betting markets favor the hosts at 1.33, with a draw at 3.50 and a Botafogo win at 4.75.
Flamengo plans the largest 3D mosaic ever displayed at the Maracanã—46 meters wide and 25 meters tall—before the ball rolls. On the pitch, both sides need points; off it, authorities hope the pre-match chaos stays in the past.