Near the drop zone and ruthless v leaders, Vasco gears up for run-in | OneFootball

The 14th round of the Brazilian Championship ended with a warning sign for Vasco’s football department. After a 2-2 draw in the derby against Flamengo, played at the Maracanã, Vasco currently sits in 13th place in the overall standings. The team has 17 points and sees the gap to the G5, the group that qualifies for the Libertadores, stuck at six points. At the same time, the safety margin above the dreaded relegation zone has dropped to just two points. The moment calls for maximum attention from the coaching staff to avoid falling into the Z4 in the coming weeks.

Despite the uncomfortable situation in the table, the squad’s performances against the competition’s strongest opponents show excellent numbers. The team has built an exact 83.3% success rate in direct clashes against the clubs that currently make up the Brasileirão G4. They earned ten points out of a possible twelve against the four best-placed teams. This impressive record against the top of the table includes three solid wins (against Palmeiras, Fluminense, and São Paulo) and just one draw (against Flamengo), showing that the squad has strength.

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Photo: ge reproduction

Record boosts Vasco ahead of this month’s grueling run of matches

To turn strong performances into a climb in the standings, the squad will need to overcome intense and brutal physical wear. The schedule sets five matches in a tight span of just fourteen days, demanding strict logistical planning. The marathon begins with an international trip to face Audax Italiano at La Florida stadium this Wednesday (06), in the group stage of the Copa Sudamericana. Vasco leads Group G.

Right after the match in Chile, the delegation returns to Rio de Janeiro to focus once again on the Brasileirão. Vasco faces Athletico at São Januário next Sunday (10), and must take all three points to get some breathing room in the table. The board expects a full house to support the players in this crucial round. A home win is the fastest way to fully move away from the risk of relegation and start a strong push toward the upper part of the overall standings.

Decisive matches in three competitions in the coming weeks

The frantic pace of matches leaves no room for long training sessions or proper physical rest. On the following Wednesday (13), Vasco will play for its survival in the fifth round of the Copa do Brasil in a knockout clash against Paysandu, once again in front of its fans. Cruz-Maltino won the first match 2-0, with two goals from Argentine striker Spinelli. Staying alive in the competition guarantees essential financial revenue for the club’s health this season. Muscle fatigue will be the main opponent in this decisive knockout match for the Rio side.

The run of five straight matches ends with two exhausting trips in the second half of May. The team heads to Beira-Rio stadium to face Internacional on Saturday the 16th. Immediately after that match, Vasco travels to take on Olimpia at Defensores del Chaco, wrapping up the tough schedule on the following Wednesday (20). The coaching staff is monitoring each starter’s muscular condition to avoid serious injuries during this stretch of decisive matches in the first half of the season.

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