Vasco: Diniz loses his key player at the worst possible time of the season | OneFootball

Fernando Diniz will have a major absence for Vasco’s match against Bahia on Sunday in Salvador. Philippe Coutinho received his third yellow card in the game against Grêmio and will be out for the first time after 23 consecutive matches on the field — his longest streak since returning to Vasco.

This season, the midfielder experienced a period of stability that he couldn’t achieve in 2024, when constant injuries limited his pace. In the last 23 games, Coutinho started 22 as a starter. The only exception was the 0-0 draw against CSA in the Copa do Brasil, when he came off the bench.

The last absence of the number 10 was in July, when he missed four matches due to a calf problem. At that time, he even played through pain against Botafogo in the first round of the Brasileirão, before missing the games against Independiente del Valle (Sudamericana), Grêmio, and Internacional.

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Philippe Coutinho in Grêmio vs Vasco for the 2025 Brasileirão — Photo: Maxi Franzoi/AGIF

Since then, Coutinho has played in all of Vasco’s matches. The current phase marks a turnaround compared to last year, when physical problems prevented the player from gaining momentum upon his return to Brazilian football.

Who will replace Coutinho?

Without his main playmaker, Diniz will need to adjust the midfield. Coutinho played in 30 out of 35 matches under the coach in his current spell at the club, highlighting the difficulty of finding a replacement.

The most likely option is Matheus França, who has been the immediate backup for the number 10. The youngster has played 13 matches, all coming off the bench, mostly replacing Coutinho. França, however, is still looking for his first goal or assist for Vasco and has had a rather unremarkable start.

Another alternative is Nuno Moreira in a central role. The Portuguese player pleases Diniz with his ability to link up play and has already played as a “number 10” at certain moments, even though it’s not his original position.

Diniz could also choose to push Tchê Tchê forward, opening up a spot for another defensive midfielder. In this setup, with Cuesta back in defense, Hugo Moura would pair with Barros in midfield. Thiago Mendes, who trained as a starter during the FIFA break, is also a possibility.

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Matheus França in action in Vasco vs Vitória — Photo: Matheus Lima/Vasco

Pressure moment

Bahia and Vasco face each other this Sunday at 4pm (Brasília time), for the 35th round of the Brasileirão. After four straight defeats, Fernando Diniz’s team is stuck at 42 points and sits in 12th place, still looking to move away from the danger zone.

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