Papo na Colina
·17 Februari 2026
Ganso warns of Vasco’s strength before semi-final: ‘Stay sharp’

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Yahoo sportsPapo na Colina
·17 Februari 2026

After Fluminense’s 3-1 victory over Bangu Atlético Clube, which secured the Tricolor a spot in the semifinals of the Campeonato Carioca, Paulo Henrique Ganso looked ahead to the classic against Vasco and issued a warning about the team led by Fernando Diniz.
The midfielder, who scored one of the goals at Maracanã, emphasized that the recent results of Cruz-Maltino do not necessarily reflect their performance on the field.
– It’s hard to say that Fluminense is coming in better, because Vasco, in reality, just hasn’t been getting the results. Now they managed to qualify for the semifinals as well. They even played well in the last Brasileirão matches, despite the results. We have to be aware that it’s a great team, very well coached by Fernando (Diniz), and we can’t slip up in this semifinal, like we did last year — he analyzed for SporTV.
The statement reinforces the rival’s respect for Fernando Diniz’s work, as he seeks to adjust Vasco after fluctuations at the start of the season.

Ganso celebrates penalty goal for Fluminense against Bangu (Photo: Alexandre Durão / Zimel Press)
Unlike the quarterfinals, which were played in a single match, the semifinals will be held over two legs. The first clash between Vasco and Fluminense is scheduled for next weekend, with dates and times yet to be confirmed by the federation.
On the other side of the bracket, Flamengo and Madureira will compete for the second spot in the final.
For Vasco, the classic represents an opportunity for reaffirmation this season and a chance to respond on the field. Even while going through a period of adjustments, the team reaches the semifinals recognized by their own opponent as a competitive and well-coached side — which only heightens the anticipation for another chapter in this traditional Carioca rivalry.

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









































