Racing Club aims to expand its history and secure another international title as it hosts Botafogo this Thursday at El Cilindro in Avellaneda for the first leg of the 2025 Recopa Sudamericana. The match will kick off at 7:30 PM ET and will determine the champion between the winner of the Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana.

The second leg will take place on Thursday, February 27, at the Nilton Santos Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, where the new South American champion will be crowned.

When and How to Watch the Recopa Sudamericana?

• Match: Racing vs. Botafogo / Botafogo vs. Racing
• Competition: Recopa Sudamericana
• Dates: Thursday, February 20 & Thursday, February 27
• Kickoff Times in the United States: 7:30 PM ET, 6:30 PM CT, 5:30 PM MT, 4:30 PM PT
• Where to Watch: beIN SPORTS USA, beIN SPORTS en Español, beIN SPORTS CONNECT

How Racing Arrives at the 2025 Recopa Sudamericana

The team, led by Gustavo Costas, has had an inconsistent run in the Apertura Tournament, winning three of its first six matches and losing the other three. In its most recent match, Racing fell 3-2 to Argentinos Juniors in Avellaneda, leaving them in seventh place with 9 points.

Additionally, Racing will face this crucial game with several key absences:

• Santiago Sosa and Agustín García Basso are confirmed to be out.
• Adrián “Maravilla” Martínez and Luciano Vietto are both uncertain.
  • Martínez is recovering from a soleus strain in his left leg, but the coaching staff remains optimistic about his potential to start.
  • Vietto has a minor hamstring issue and missed the Argentinos match, but there is confidence he will be available from the start.

Botafogo: Struggles and Coaching Changes

The Brazilian side is not in the best form heading into the match. After a 3-1 defeat to Flamengo in the Supercopa do Brasil, Botafogo has registered one win, two losses, and a 1-1 draw against Boavista in the Carioca Tournament, where they currently sit in sixth place with 13 points.

Furthermore, Botafogo faced the departure of Artur Jorge, the coach who led them to continental glory. He has been replaced by Cláudio Caçapa, who had a successful stint in 2023, securing victories over Vasco da Gama, Gremio, and RB Bragantino in the Brasileirão, as well as a win in the Copa Sudamericana against Patronato.

Additionally, the team is missing Thiago Almada and Luiz Henrique, two key players who have left the club recently.

Racing and Botafogo's Road to the 2025 Recopa Sudamericana

• Racing Club claimed its first Copa Sudamericana title by defeating Cruzeiro 3-1 in Asunción. Racing’s international titles include:
  • Copa Libertadores (1967)
  • Intercontinental Cup (1967)
  • Supercopa Sudamericana (1988)
• Botafogo won its first Copa Libertadores by defeating Atlético Mineiro in the final. Their only other international title was the Copa Conmebol (1993). In 1994, Botafogo competed in their first Recopa Sudamericana but lost to São Paulo.