Renato Gaúcho faces third bid to lift Vasco from Z-4, opening against Palmeiras | OneFootball

Renato Gaúcho begins his third spell at Vasco on Thursday against Palmeiras at São Januário in the Campeonato Brasileiro, again tasked with hauling the club out of the Z-4. He achieved it in 2005, but not in 2008.

According to Globo.com, both of his previous debuts came under relegation pressure, and the matches are instructive.

In 2005, away to title-chasing Santos at Vila Belmiro, Geílson struck before the break, then added a second soon after half-time following a Felipe Alves error. Vasco responded immediately, Anderson reducing the deficit from a loose ball after Alex Dias surged forward.

Fernandinho levelled on 16 minutes from Anderson’s pass, before Wagner Diniz teed up Alex Dias for a late cross-shot winner to seal a 3-2 comeback. Under Renato that year, Vasco played 31 league games, won 13, drew 10 and lost eight, finishing 12th with 56 points after escaping the bottom four.

In 2008, the opening opponent was also Palmeiras. Vasco were 17th in the 25th round and lost 2-0 at Palestra Itália, with Diego Souza and Alex Mineiro on target, the first set up by Léo Lima and finished into the right corner.

After the interval, Pedrinho, now the club’s president, made his re-debut to aid a survival push, but Alex Mineiro sealed the result late. Renato’s side then went five without a win, with defeats to Palmeiras, Ipatinga, Figueirense and Flamengo and a draw with Sport, followed by four unbeaten that still did not lift them from the Z-4.

Across 13 matches of that stint, Vasco recorded four wins, two draws and seven defeats, ending in the club’s first Campeonato Brasileiro relegation.

Source: Globo.com