RIO DE JANEIRO (Interstat) — Botafogo hosts América Mineiro on Sunday at Estádio Nilton Santos in the first leg of their third-round Copa do Brasil matchup.

The April 26 match opens a two-game series, with the return leg Wednesday in Belo Horizonte.

Botafogo enters the contest unbeaten in its last competitive match, a 2-2 draw at Paulista on Nov. 30. The result extended a run that includes two victories and a draw across all competitions since October, though the club has not played a domestic fixture since early December. América Mineiro, which last played Sept. 21, arrives with momentum from a 1-0 road win at Coritiba — a result that halted a two-game losing streak in league play.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 1-1 draw. However, the analytic service’s ELO ratings give Botafogo a 66.1 percent probability of victory, reflecting the home side’s historical advantage at the 46,931-seat venue.

Sunday’s game marks the only domestic meeting between the clubs this season. Botafogo finished 10th in the 2025 Série A standings, while América Mineiro placed 16th, avoiding relegation by two points.

The winner of the two-legged tie advances to the Copa do Brasil round of 16. The tournament offers a berth in next year’s Copa Libertadores to the champion.