Diniz v Zubeldía: Vasco v Flu, clash of philosophies in semi-final | OneFootball

Vasco da Gama takes to the Maracanã pitch this Thursday (11) not just to face a historic rival, but to experience a curious chapter of “creator against creature.” The classic match in the semifinals of the Copa do Brasil carries a component that goes beyond the four lines: the meeting between Fernando Diniz, now the commander of Vasco and the most influential coach in the recent history of the rival, and Luis Zubeldía, the Argentine who took over the other side and quickly won over the fans.

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Mirrors in behavior, opposites in tactics

The comparison between the two coaches has gained strength behind the scenes. Although their teams play in distinct ways, the locker room recognizes almost identical personality traits: intensity in daily life, obsession with studying the game, and closeness with the players are trademarks of both. Diniz was the one who opened this path of extreme demand at the Laranjeiras club, leading a transformation that culminated in the 2023 Libertadores title.

However, when the ball is in play, it's a clash of philosophies. Diniz's Vasco seeks possession and original concepts. Meanwhile, Zubeldía took on a scenario of instability and implemented a more vertical style, with quick transitions and a defensive reorganization that restored competitiveness to the opponent. It's the confrontation of “idea against idea.”

However, Fernando Diniz arrives at the Copa do Brasil semifinal boasting a personal taboo against Luis Zubeldía: in 2025, the Brazilian defeated the Argentine both times they faced each other, becoming a true nightmare for the foreigner.

The victory that caused a dismissal

The first chapter of this dominance happened in the first round of the Brasileirão. At the time, Zubeldía was in charge of São Paulo. Diniz's Vasco went to Morumbi and achieved a significant 3-1 victory. The result was so impactful that it cost the Argentine coach his job, being dismissed from the Tricolor Paulista right after the defeat to the Cruz-Maltino.

Repeating the dose in Rio

Fate wanted them to meet again in the second round, now with Zubeldía leading Fluminense. And the script remained: Vasco won again, this time 2-0, proving that Diniz may have found an antidote to the rival's style of play.

Where to watch the battle

This particular duel between recent history and the immediate present begins at 8 PM (Brasília time). Vasco fans can follow every moment of this decision through SporTV (cable TV), Premiere (pay-per-view), and Prime Video (streaming).

The expectation is for a game where the strategy of someone who knows the rival like the back of their hand (Diniz) will try to overcome the efficiency of the new work (Zubeldía).

In the last Brasileirão game, Vasco won – Photo: André Durão

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This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.