Ceara could not overcome a poor Botafogo side at home in a goalless draw on Monday. The home side had the better of the game and missed some fine chances, most notably a penalty by Arthur that he missed half an hour into the game. Botafogo had only one chance all game and needed some top saves from Saulo to get a point at the end.

Ceara set the tempo and looked the more energetic and aggressive side against a passive Botafogo side that lacked the ability to hold the ball. Juninho Quixada sent a shot comfortably over the bar early on when a loose ball fell to him before Felipe Azevedo made a good run from the left and curled a low shot that was held by Saulo.

The pressure from the home side was maintained and Felipe Jonathan went close with a drilled shot from the edge of the area on the left that fizzed only narrowly wide of the right post.

And Ceara's urgency and drive saw them earn a penalty half an hour into the game as Quixada pounced on a loose ball inside the box and was tripped by Rodrigo Lindoso. Yet the host missed their big chance as Arthur sent his penalty wide of the left post. There was more perseverance from the more active home players but failed to get another chance and it stayed level at the break.

Fogaõ, having been so defensive in the first half, immediately created a good chance early in the second half when a good cross by Rodrigo Pimpaõ from the left was whipped to the far corner and goalie Everson needed to tip the ball away for a corner.

Ceara remained positive and attacking for the majority of the second half but lacked a bit of output and did not really cause too much danger. They had the ball in the net on 65 minutes as Quixada headed in a cross from the left but the goal was disallowed for a tight offside.

Ceara's best chance came on 75 minutes when a header by Ricardo Bueno was aimed towards the right corner and it seemed to be going in, only for Saulo to tip the ball away for a corner. The hosts seemed to run out of ideas late on but Bueno once again had a chance in 90 minute as he showed nimble feet and fired a shot into the side netting from a tight angle on the right.

This could be two massive dropped for a Ceara side that continues to play some very good football and once again outplayed a direct opponent at the bottom. Yet they failed to make it count and will hope that it does not cost them at the end. Botafogo seemed a bit too cautious and never managed to get going in attack but a point is a decent outcome for them and they will look to show better quality in the games to come.