With around ten matches to complete Artur Jorge is tasked with getting Botafogo over the line in the Brazilian league, as they try to hold off the likes of Fortaleza and particularly the champions, Palmeiras.
Last time out the team from Rio failed to win any of their last eleven games, this time the Portuguese coach will have to manage their league campaign as well as challenging for their first Copa Libertadores (CL) crown.
Fogo face five-times winners Penarol in the CL semi-finals with a chance to make history.
But will that goal diminish their chances of winning the Brasileirao?
Post the international pause, Botafogo’s schedule restarts with them hosting mid-table Criciuma following which the Libertadores semis take place.
The Brazilians will be strong favourites to progress into the final, despite the first leg being at the Engenho.
Should that happen Jorge and co. can concentrate back on the league where the crunch fixtures could be their visits to Inter, Atletico Mineiro (another Libertadores semi-finalist), and Palmeiras.
However, that showdown with Palmeiras, who they eliminated from the CL, could be postponed depending on what happens against Penarol.
It would certainly be some conclusion if Fogo, say, with their maiden CL crown, met the title holders in the deciding Brazilian league match.
Before that, history suggests plenty could go wrong, but maybe not this time?
Meanwhile at the other end of the table, two of the big Brazilian heavyweights namely Corinthians and Fluminense (who won the CL in 2023) are battling to stay in the league.
The Sao Paulo giants might be in particular danger as they have the distraction of the Copa Sudamericana semis to contest.
And finally, a word about a famous team that was relegated recently – Santos – who now look well placed, being currently in second, to return to the top flight after just one season in Serie B.
Analysis – John Bethell