Vasco go two months without naming same XI in Brasileirão | OneFootball

Vasco is dealing with chronic lineup instability in the Brazilian Championship due to a buildup of injuries, suspensions, and strict physical load management. According to a survey by the “ge” portal, coach Renato Gaúcho has now gone exactly two months without being able to repeat the same starting lineup in the national competition. The last time the manager was able to field the same 11 starters was in March, during back-to-back wins over Fluminense and Grêmio.

On those occasions, the core lineup that seemed to be settled was structured as follows: Léo Jardim; Paulo Henrique, Saldivia, Robert Renan and Cuiabano; Hugo Moura, Thiago Mendes, Tchê Tchê; Nuno Moreira, Andrés Gómez and David.

Since then, Vasco’s medical department has become a daily obstacle to the coaching staff’s planning. The loss of left-back Cuiabano, due to swelling in his left thigh, triggered a chain reaction of forced changes on both flanks of the team.

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Medical issues at full-back and instability in Vasco’s defense

The squad’s physical situation recently worsened with the right ankle sprain suffered by right-back Paulo Henrique, who will only return to the pitch in July. Renato detailed how difficult it has been to manage the first-team squad amid this adverse medical scenario:

In addition to the problems at full-back, the defense has also struggled with a lack of technical consistency, as Saldivia and Carlos Cuesta have put in a string of poor performances, leaving Robert Renan isolated as the only undisputed starter.

The right wing is another area that has become a real headache for Vasco’s coaching staff in these opening months of the league season. Nuno Moreira, Johan Rojas, Marino Hinestroza, and Brenner were each given a run of opportunities in the role, but none of them managed to establish himself in the team. Forward Adson looked set to solve the technical issue after shining in the win over Athletico-PR, but he was ruled out in the following round after showing severe signs of muscle fatigue.

Market scouting and team history

The forced rotation has led the club to eight straight matches with completely different lineups in the country’s main football competition. The executive board is working behind the scenes to speed up signings in the July transfer window, aiming to fill the tactical gaps exposed during this first half of the 2026 season.

The first-team squad is focusing its efforts at the training center ahead of next Sunday’s (24) clash with Red Bull Bragantino, urgently needing to pick up points at home. Vasco will take the field under pressure to move away from the relegation zone and provide an immediate response after the heavy loss to Internacional and the defeat to Olimpia in the Copa Sudamericana. The coaching staff is studying further changes to the team’s structure, keeping it unclear who will take the starting spots in the areas that still have no definitive owner.

Vasco still does not have a defined starting lineup – Photo: André Durão/ge

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