Vasco look to extend unbeaten run v Flu in Copa do Brasil | OneFootball

Vasco da Gama takes the field this Thursday (11th), at 8 p.m., at the Maracanã, carrying a heavy burden: trying to save the season amid a technical crisis. However, while the current moment favors Fluminense, the history of the matchup in decisive games points to a “paternity” by Vasco that serves as comfort and hope for their fans.

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The moral score of 6 to 3 for Vasco

A survey of the semifinals played between the two Rio giants shows Vasco’s dominance. Out of the nine times Vasco and Flu have faced each other one step before the final (whether in the Carioca Championship or the Copa do Brasil), the Almirante came out on top six times. The nearly 67% success rate in direct knockout matches against the Laranjeiras rival is an important psychological advantage.

The last time they met in a Copa do Brasil semifinal, in 2006, the spot was decided at São Januário. That year, under the command of Renato Gaúcho and with goals from Edílson and Valdiram, Vasco knocked out Tricolor and advanced to the final. It’s this mystique that Fernando Diniz’s team needs to invoke to overcome the doubts.

Current technical gap

While history smiles, the present is worrisome. Vasco arrives “downcast” after a 5-0 defeat to Atlético-MG and losing seven of their last ten games. Meanwhile, Fluminense, under the guidance of Zubeldía, has tightened its defense (which concedes very few goals) and is on a roll, with seven wins in the same ten-match stretch.

To balance the scales, Vasco is betting on the unpredictability of knockout matches and the individual talent of Coutinho and Rayan. If the collective fails, the hope is that the weight of the jersey and the favorable record “take the field” to uphold the tradition of those who usually dominate the classic in decisive moments.

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