Vasco’s Brasileirão target and the tests facing Fernando Diniz | OneFootball

Vasco open at 20:00 on Thursday against Mirassol at the Maião, and enter 2026 aiming higher than recent relegation fights after a Copa do Brasil final and active window.

According to Globo.com, the club and Fernando Diniz’s staff are targeting a Libertadores berth, either via the preliminaries or directly.

Consistency is the key issue. In the last Brasileirão they lost 19 times, conceded 60, the third worst defence, and scored 55, the fifth best attack.

They won five in a row then lost five straight, losing momentum during the Copa do Brasil semi-finals.

After beating Boavista, Diniz said the priority is a steadier side, more solid and creative, giving up few chances, with the last four cup games as the reference.

Early this year, the pattern persists, seven scored and three conceded across four matches.

Rayan and Vegetti have left this window after 14 league goals each last season, 28 of 55 overall, so Diniz must rebuild his attack after losing 2025’s leading scorers.

Other exits include Jean David, Maurício Lemos, Leandrinho, Paulinho, Lucas Oliveira, Maxime Dominguez and Sforza.

To address the frontline, the board turned to Johan Rojas, Marino Hinestroza and Brenner. In defence, Alan Saldivia has signed with Diniz’s approval, and an official bid has gone to Nottingham Forest for former Botafogo left-back Cuiabano.

Source: Globo.com