Vasco banking on secret weapon to break derby hoodoo, find out more | OneFootball

Vasco can end three major taboos at once if they beat Flamengo next Sunday (21) at Maracanã. A victory would put an end to a streak of 11 games without defeating the rival, would be the first in the Brasileirão after almost 10 years, and would also end the club's longest drought at the new Maracanã, which has lasted 12 matches.

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Vasco has Diniz as the trump card to beat Flamengo again; understand – Photo: Matheus Lima/Vasco

Despite the discouraging recent record, the Cruz-Maltino has an important trump card: Fernando Diniz. Since 2019, the beginning of Flamengo's victorious era, no coach has defeated the Rubro-Negro as many times as the current Vasco manager.

There have been 24 games in total, with seven wins, seven draws, and 10 losses for Diniz against Flamengo, numbers achieved during his tenures at Fluminense, São Paulo, Santos, and Cruzeiro. This will be, however, the first time the coach leads Vasco in the Clássico dos Milhões.

Diniz has already been the protagonist of remarkable victories against the rival. In 2020, with São Paulo, he achieved a 4-1 win at Maracanã and eliminated the Rubro-Negro in the Copa do Brasil with an aggregate of 5-1. In 2023, leading Fluminense, he won the Carioca final also by 4-1, securing the title over the rival.

In the latest encounters, however, the advantage shifted. Since 2024, Diniz has lost four of the five duels against Flamengo, which now leads the recent history.

Better than Abel Ferreira

Among the coaches who have beaten Flamengo at least three times since 2019, Diniz ranks 5th in performance (38%), but he is the one who has faced the club the most. The number even surpasses that of Abel Ferreira, who has a 36% performance against the Rubro-Negro while managing Palmeiras.

Ranking of coaches who have beaten Flamengo the most since 2019:

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Vasco vs Ceará Fernando Diniz — Photo: André Durão

With the pressure of the Brasileirão and the chance to break historical taboos, Vasco bets on the experience and track record of Fernando Diniz to finally beat their biggest rival again.

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