The first 90 minutes of Vasco’s Copa do Brasil semifinal against Palmeiras are over, but the tie remains open ahead of Sunday’s return match at São Januário. Palmeiras won the first leg 1-0, while Vasco now has to redirect its attention to the Brasileirão and Wednesday’s away game against Athletico Paranaense in Curitiba.
After the cup match, coach Pedro Emanuel acknowledged the difficulty of putting the semifinal aside. The Portuguese manager nevertheless said Vasco must approach the league with urgency because the club’s top-flight status has not yet been guaranteed.
“Whether it is possible to disconnect completely from the Copa do Brasil, only the game will tell,” Emanuel said. “What I know is that we have a sense of urgency in the championship.” He added that the fight would continue until the end and stressed that Vasco has six league matches remaining, including one postponed game that gives the team a fixture in hand.
The trip to face Athletico is made more difficult by Vasco’s record at the Arena da Baixada. The club has never won there in the Brasileirão. Its last away victory against Athletico came in 1998, at Vila Capanema, with a 2-1 result. Since the Arena was inaugurated in 1999, Vasco has played 17 league matches there, recording 13 defeats and four draws.
Emanuel is expected to maintain his rotation of the squad. According to the report, several players are dealing with physical fatigue, and the coach intends to select the strongest available lineup based on the opponent’s characteristics.
“We are in a decisive moment in the championship, so we will disconnect and focus,” Emanuel said. “This squad has shown me that it has a strong sense of mission.” He also warned that Vasco had not achieved anything yet and that total concentration would be necessary for the remaining matches.
Vasco currently sits 13th in the Brasileirão with 38 points from 32 games. The team is only two points ahead of Corinthians, 17th and the first club in the relegation zone.
Recent results have highlighted the challenge of balancing league fixtures with major cup games. Vasco failed to win its last three Brasileirão matches before Copa do Brasil or Copa Sudamericana fixtures: it drew with Remo before facing Boca Juniors in Argentina, lost to São Paulo between Sudamericana matches and suffered a heavy defeat against Flamengo before meeting Palmeiras. The team will therefore need extra focus against Athletico.
Sources: Globo Esporte.