Vasco face another major midfield blow ahead of the derby | OneFootball

The list of problems for coach Fernando Diniz to assemble the Vasco da Gama team for the classic against Flamengo keeps growing. Midfielder Thiago Mendes, who was hoped to be a reinforcement for the sector, is unlikely to be included for the match. The player is still in the physical transition process and hasn't recovered in time.

+ Player CAVA seeks a spot at Vasco: “Wants to play with Fernando Diniz”

Player not yet 100% recovered

According to the NT Vascaínos profile, Thiago Mendes has not yet reached the ideal physical condition to return to the field. Although he is already in the transition phase, he is not 100% recovered, and the technical staff is likely to choose not to risk his inclusion in such an intense game.

His absence is another blow to the club's planning, which was counting on his experience for the remainder of the season.

The likely absence of Thiago Mendes worsens the crisis in Vasco's midfield. The sector is already missing Jair, who will only return in 2026, and Tchê Tchê, who is also recovering from an injury. This situation forces Diniz to seek new alternatives for the team's most important sector.

Thiago Mendes remains out of the team – Photo: Matheus Lima/Vasco

Return of a starter is the good news

Not everything, however, is bad news. The coach will have the return of midfielder Hugo Moura, who served a suspension in the last game and is confirmed for the classic. Besides him, Paulinho and Mateus Carvalho remain as options on the bench. The defense will also have a confirmed absence: defender Lucas Freitas, suspended for the third yellow card.

Hugo Moura returns to the midfield – Photo: Rodrigo BUENDIA / AFP

+ Follow Papo na Colina's social media: Thread, Bluesky, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Tiktok and Google News

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