Vasco’s new centre-back duo lifts team to a new level

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Papo na Colina

·29 September 2025

Vasco’s new centre-back duo lifts team to a new level

The 2-0 victory over Cruzeiro meant much more than just three points for Vasco. The match marked the first time the new defensive duo, composed of Carlos Cuesta and Robert Renan, played together for 90 minutes. The result was immediate and encouraging: for the first time in eight games, the team did not concede any goals, indicating that Fernando Diniz may have finally found the stability he was seeking.

+ Vasco beats Cruzeiro 2-0 at São Januário and ends a series of taboos

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Reinforcements stand out and bring security to the sector

Cuesta and Robert Renan, signed in the last transfer window, were the pillars of a very secure defensive performance. The Colombian played his third game as a starter, while the Brazilian returned to the team after recovering from a concussion. The duo, which had only played together for a few minutes in two other matches, showed great synergy and neutralized the opponent's attack.

Moreover, according to data from the profile Data Futebol, Robert Renan has not been dribbled past in his first four games for Vasco. Notably, he has a 73.3% success rate in duels.

It's no wonder that coach Fernando Diniz made a point of praising the 21-year-old:

“Robert Renan, for example, is 21 years old. He might be one of the most skilled ball-playing defenders, not only in Brazil but worldwide. I am unaware of any left-footed player, at his age, who builds the play like he does, in any league.”

The last game in which Vasco had not conceded was the 6-0 thrashing over Santos on August 17.

Cuesta during the match against Cruzeiro at São Januário – Photo: Thiago Ribeiro/AGIF

Diniz praises the recruitment process of the reinforcements

After the match, coach Fernando Diniz made a point of praising the work of the football department. He recalled the pressure for signings during the window and valued the club's patience and criteria in choosing the right names. The coach stated:

“When we do things too hastily, especially without money and with almost no room for error, we end up making mistakes. We made the signings much more towards the end of the window than at the beginning.”

He concluded by saying that Vasco's window was “very good,” with “few but assertive signings,” also praising the arrivals of Andrés Gómez and Matheus França.