Botafogo, the Copa Libertadores champion, celebrated a historic achievement on Sunday by defeating Sao Paulo 2-1 to secure its first Brazilian league title since 1995. This victory marks the club’s third league title overall, finishing the season with 79 points from 38 matches, six points clear of runner-up Palmeiras.
The match, held at Nilton Santos Stadium, saw Jefferson Savarino open the scoring for Botafogo in the 37th minute. However, a defensive error allowed a depleted Sao Paulo team to level the score in the 63rd minute through William Gomes. The decisive goal came from Gregore in injury time, who had previously been sent off in the Copa Libertadores final against Atletico Mineiro. Botafogo had triumphed in that match, winning 3-1 and securing their first South American title on November 30, which also earned them a spot in next year’s Club World Cup in the United States.
Palmeiras, the last obstacle for Botafogo, suffered a 1-0 defeat at home to Fluminense, which managed to avoid relegation while sending Athletico Paranaense down to the second division. Kevin Serna scored the only goal of that match in the 37th minute.
John Textor, the American businessman who owns Botafogo, expressed his surprise at the rapid success of the club since his acquisition three years ago. “I can’t really say I believed it,” Textor said after the match. “When you have ambition, it doesn’t necessarily mean you know you will win. It happened much earlier than we expected, and we are very excited about that.”
Textor faced criticism from fans during a challenging period marked by financial difficulties and disappointing results prior to the club’s Copa Libertadores victory. His investment in Botafogo has been significant, with high-profile signings like Argentine midfielder Thiago Almada for $25 million and winger Luiz Henrique for $21 million. The team is coached by Arthur Jorge, who joined in April.
Textor’s ownership group, Eagle Football, also controls Crystal Palace in the Premier League, French club Lyon, and RWD Molenbeek in Belgium. Despite facing scrutiny in Brazil, particularly after making unsubstantiated claims about match-fixing last year, Textor has been part of a wave of foreign investors reshaping Brazilian soccer following a 2021 law change that facilitated private investment in the sport.
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