Brazilian snub: Vasco da Gama face Barracas without boss or starters | OneFootball

Barracas Central’s historic debut in the Copa Sudamericana will have an unexpected twist. This Tuesday, starting at 7 p.m., the “Guapo” will host an alternate Vasco da Gama side at Banfield’s stadium, arriving in Buenos Aires without its star players and without its head coach, Renato Portaluppi.

Clear priorities: the Brasileirao before the Cup

The Brazilian coach’s decision caused surprise across the continent. Portaluppi chose to stay in Rio de Janeiro and instead send his assistant, Marcelo Sales, to lead a squad made up almost entirely of youth players.

The reason behind this controversial move is physical wear and tear and a packed schedule. After the match against Barracas, Vasco must travel across Brazil to face Remo in Belém (Pará), a game they consider vital for their current standing in the domestic tournament.

“They’re not made of iron”: Renato speaks

Portaluppi was blunt in explaining the absence of the starters: “We are not neglecting the Sudamericana, but the priority is the Brasileirao. It makes no sense to risk players with a thin squad and lose more pieces to injuries. The players are human; they’re not made of iron.”

Historic night at the Florencio Sola

Despite the snub from the Brazilian giant, for Barracas Central it will be an unforgettable occasion. The team from the southern part of Buenos Aires will make its absolute debut in international competition, looking to take advantage of the opponent’s inexperience and get off to a good start in Group G.

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