Vasco wants to find its way back to victory and give a response to the fans this Thursday, when they face Olimpia, at 7pm, at the Defensores del Chaco stadium, in Asunción, Paraguay, in the second leg of the round of 16 of the Copa Sudamericana. After the goalless draw in São Januário, last week, the Rio club needs to win to advance to the quarter-finals of the competition.
Vasco takes Olimpia at Defensores del Chaco looking for a place in the quarterfinals of the South American Championship
Vasco wants to find its way back to victory and give a response to the fans this Thursday, when they face Olimpia, at 7pm, at the Defensores del Chaco stadium, in Asunción, Paraguay, in the second leg of the round of 16 of the Copa...
Therefore, any victory guarantees classification for the winner, while a new draw takes the decision to penalties. In search of a place, Vasco needs to overcome the moment of pressure that was created in São Januário after the 3-0 defeat to Santos, last Sunday, in the Brazilian Championship.
- Led by Pedro Emanuel, Vasco is still trying to recover its offensive power.
- The team has not found the net for three consecutive matches and needs to score again in a decisive match away from home.
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The first clash was balanced and ended 0-0. Therefore, any victory guarantees classification for the winner, while a new draw takes the decision to penalties. In search of a place, Vasco needs to overcome the moment of pressure that was created in São Januário after the 3-0 defeat to Santos, last Sunday, in the Brazilian Championship.
Led by Pedro Emanuel, Vasco is still trying to recover its offensive power. The team has not found the net for three consecutive matches and needs to score again in a decisive match away from home.
Vasco will have changes compared to the team that lost to Santos. Left-back Cuiabano is back after serving suspension and should take over the position in place of Lucas Piton. In midfield, Cauan Barros and Jhojan Rojas compete for the starting spot in place of Jair, who suffered an injury to his right thigh in the defeat against São Paulo.
Portuguese Nuno Moreira could gain another chance in attack. In a bad phase and under pressure from the fans, he is the favorite to replace Facundo Colidio. The Argentine faced Santos, but was not registered in time for the knockout stage of the South American Championship, as was midfielder Santiago Sosa, who is also not available to the coaching staff.
Coach Pedro Emanuel regretted the performances below expectations and highlighted that teamwork is the key for Vasco to turn things around, with an eye on the season.
"We know that we are suffering from difficult setbacks. I have the same feeling with which all of our fans left São Januário against Santos. I am a resilient person, I believe in teamwork and this identifies with what we have to do. We have to work together to be strong", said the coach.
In addition to Jair, midfielder Matheus Carvalho is also in the medical department and adds to the list of absences.
Olimpia arrives motivated after an important victory in the Paraguayan Championship. They beat Sportivo Ameliano 2-1 at home, a result that made them climb the national tournament table and raised the group's morale for this decisive duel.
Coach Pablo Sánchez should promote the entry of midfielder Ruben Lezcano, who was a substitute in the first knockout match. The player, who had an unsuccessful spell at Fluminense last season, should be responsible for setting up the main plays.
Experienced midfielder Richard Ortiz and center forward Sebastián Ferreira, the latter known for having worn Vasco's colors in 2023, were also substitutes in the first game and should start among the starters in the second battle for a place in the quarter-finals.
TECHNICAL SHEET
OLYMPIA X VASCO
OLYMPIA - Gaston Oliveira; Raul Caceres, Bryan Bentaberry, Mateo Gamarra and Esteban Matus; Richard Sánchez, Richard Ortiz and Ruben Lezcano; Fernando Cardozo, Sebastian Ferreira (Braian Romero) and Romeo Benítez. Coach: Pablo Sánchez.
VASCO - Léo Jardim; Paulo Henrique, Carlos Cuesta, Robert Renan and Cuiabano; Tchê Tchê, Cauan Barros (Jhojan Rojas) and Thiago Mendes; Nuno Moreira, Spinelli and Nuno Moreira. Coach: Pedro Emanuel.
REFEREE - Esteban Ostojich (URU).
TIME - 7pm.
LOCATION - Defenders of the Chaco, in Asunción (PAR).
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