Vasco make Brasileirão top priority for 2026 to avoid past mistakes | OneFootball

In search of their first victory in the Brazilian Championship this Wednesday (11), against Bahia, Vasco da Gama takes the field with a different mindset from last season. The strategic plan outlined by the football board for 2026 places the round-robin competition as the “number one objective” of the year. The directive is clear: maximum strength in national league matches and management of playing time in the cup tournaments, reversing the logic used in 2025.

Last year, the club prioritized the Copa Sudamericana and the Copa do Brasil, even resting starters in the Brazilian Championship. The result was an early elimination from the continental tournament (in the playoffs against Independiente del Valle) and a runner-up finish in the national knockout competition. However, the cost of this strategy was high in Serie A: the team suffered a collapse in the final stretch, with seven losses in the last eight games, finishing in a frustrating 14th place.

+ Diniz gets a “complete package” and Vasco will have all reinforcements available against Bahia

The trauma of 2025 and the new strategy

The change in approach comes from confidence in the squad’s qualification and the need to avoid unnecessary risks. The board believes they have provided coach Fernando Diniz with a stronger group, with six new signings in this transfer window. Although they are still looking for a starting defensive midfielder in the market, the internal assessment is that the current squad is capable of delivering a solid campaign and fighting at the top of the table, aiming for a direct spot in the Libertadores.

Vasco strengthened and demands for results

The trauma from the final stretch of 2025, when the team flirted with the bottom of the table after dreaming of the G-6, served as a lesson. The order now is to not neglect any points, especially when playing at home. With only one point from the first two rounds (a loss to Mirassol and a draw with Chapecoense), today’s match at São Januário takes on the air of a decisive clash to align practice with the new priority-driven discourse.

Diniz wants the best possible position for Vasco – Photo: Dikran Sahagian/Vasco

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