Vasco put Brazilian Serie A first in 2026 to avoid repeat of 2025 errors | OneFootball

Vasco da Gama have reset their 2026 priorities, placing the Brazilian Serie A above the cups as they chase a first league win against Bahia on Wednesday.

According to PaponaColina, the plan is clear: strongest line-ups in the league and managed minutes in the cups, a reversal of 2025's approach.

Last year the club prioritised the Copa Sudamericana and the Copa do Brasil, even resting starters in the league. They exited the continental competition in the play-offs to Independiente del Valle and finished runners-up in the domestic cup. The cost came in Serie A, with seven defeats in the final eight games and a frustrating 14th-place finish.

The shift is underpinned by confidence in a stronger squad. The hierarchy believe they have handed coach Fernando Diniz a deeper group after six signings in this window, and while a first-choice defensive midfielder is still being sought, the internal view is that the current squad can mount a solid campaign and push for a direct Libertadores place.

The late-2025 slump, when the team flirted with the lower reaches after aiming for the G-6, has sharpened focus. The message now is to drop no points, especially at home. With one point from the opening two rounds, a loss to Mirassol and a draw with Chapecoense, Wednesday's Bahia clash at São Januário carries extra weight.

Source: PaponaColina