Athletico will look to preserve two home records against Vasco when the teams meet at the Arena da Baixada on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in the 34th round of the Campeonato Brasileiro. Athletico has not lost to Vasco at the stadium since 2007, while Vasco has never won there in the league.
Vasco’s most recent victory over Athletico at the Arena, in normal time, came in August 2007 in the preliminary round of the Copa Sudamericana. The visitors came from behind to win 4-2, with goals from Rubens Júnior, Abuda, Andrade and Conca. Dinei and Alan Bahia scored for Athletico, and the result sent Vasco through to the round of 16.
Since that match, the sides have played 13 times at the Arena da Baixada. Athletico has won nine of those games and the other four ended in draws. Their latest meeting there was in the 2024 Copa do Brasil quarter-finals: Athletico won 2-1 in normal time, but Vasco advanced by winning the penalty shootout.
In the Campeonato Brasileiro, Athletico and Vasco have met 17 times at the stadium, which opened in 1999. Athletico has recorded 13 wins and there have been four draws. Vasco’s last Série A away win against Athletico was in 1998, at the Vila Capanema, before the Arena opened.
Athletico’s biggest home league wins over Vasco include a 7-2 result in 2005, a 6-4 game in 2006 and a 4-1 victory in 2019. The teams also met in 2013 at the Arena Joinville, where Athletico won 5-1. The match took place there while the Arena da Baixada was closed for renovations ahead of the 2014 World Cup and Athletico was serving a stadium ban.
The teams enter Wednesday’s game in contrasting form. Athletico has gone three matches without a win and is fifth with 54 points, having dropped out of the top four. Vasco has won once in its last four rounds and sits 13th on 38 points, two ahead of Corinthians, the first club in the relegation zone.
Sources: Globo Esporte.