Vasco v Grêmio: Rival boss complains about Vasco’s advantage ahead of clash

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·20 de março de 2026

Vasco v Grêmio: Rival boss complains about Vasco’s advantage ahead of clash

This Sunday’s (22) national classic between Vasco and Grêmio has already started to be contested off the pitch. The match, valid for the Brazilian Championship, will mark coach Renato Gaúcho’s reunion with his former club at São Januário.

However, Portuguese manager Luís Castro, the current coach of the team from Rio Grande do Sul, stirred up the backstage by publicly complaining about the logistics of the round. His dissatisfaction came after Grêmio’s 2-0 victory over Vitória on Thursday night (19).

Vídeos OneFootball

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Public complaint and physical difference

The foreign coach used the post-match press conference to express his deep concern about his squad’s physical condition. He highlighted the short recovery period given to the Porto Alegre team compared directly to their opponent from Rio.

“Physical wear and tear is a concern for all coaches in the Brasileirão. We faced a team with two or three more days of rest between games than us. Now we’ll face another team with one more day of rest,” said Castro.

Vasco last took the field on Wednesday (18), when they pulled off a heroic comeback against Fluminense. The Grêmio manager demanded double the dedication from his players:

“The message I give to the players, even with the theoretical disadvantage, is that we have the obligation to be fresh for the match.”

The clash will pit two in-form teams against each other, as Grêmio has overtaken Vasco in the standings.

Continental draw and debut expectations

The Vasco news cycle also heated up with the definition of the club’s international future. The club discovered its opponents in the long-awaited Copa Sudamericana.

The official draw placed Renato Gaúcho’s team in Group G, alongside Olimpia from Paraguay, Audax Italiano from Chile, and Barracas Central from Argentina. Only the group leader secures a direct spot in the round of 16 of the competition.