Vasco – Palmeiras: Preview & Prediction
Once again at the Raulino de Oliveira stadium in Volta Redonda, Vasco faces the splintered Palmeiras this Sunday, August 13. The match is part of the schedule of the twentieth round of the Brazilian Championship, the first of the second round. It is scheduled to start at 4:00 p.m. (Brasília time).
Vasco
With the San Januário stadium still banned due to the conflict involving fans after Vasco’s defeat to Flamengo 1-0, the club saw their home performance plummet. He has made 15 of the 21 points in his priority stage. When he came out of his cauldron, he got only one point in nine.
As the results out of the home have been insufficient, the cruzmaltino plummeted in the table of classification. Without winning three rounds, Vasco completed his participation in the first round in the twelfth position. He has 24 points (seven wins, three draws and nine losses).
The fall made the fans ask the reintegration of veteran midfielder Nene. The player, without agreeing to the actions of coach Milton Mendes, asked to leave. Did not receive solid offers. Reclining, he took advantage of the fans’ requests to step back and say that he is ready to return.
It remains to be seen if the coach will passively agree to climb a player who does not like him. As the situation is not of the best can even put it as a holder this Sunday, even if it is not in the best of his physical conditioning. Even because it does not have great options for the sector.
The decision may also include the use of striker Luís Fabiano. After leaving for a month due to the hip injury, he returned to train with the group. If it is scaled, Nene must be left out. The coach has avoided putting the two together, since none of them is dedicated to the marking when the rival has the possession of ball.
With the week off for training, Milton Mendes received other good news from the medical department. Defender Paulão, lateral Ramon and striker Caio have resumed their training routine and should be available to face the São Paulo alviverde.
The duel can also mark the re-play of defender Anderson Martins. The athlete has done a personalized job to improve his fitness and depends on a new evaluation to see if it can be related this Sunday. Most likely you should receive the green light.
Palmeiras
Red light was what Palmeiras faced on Wednesday, August 9, in what had been considered the most important game of the season for the club. After defeating, at home, the Barcelona of Ecuador, by 1 to 0, was eliminated from the Copa Libertadores of America version 2017 in the decision by penalties.
As it had also fallen in the Glass of Brazil, it remained to the millionaire cast of the São Paulo alviverde the dispute of the Brasileirão. Tournament in which the coach, Cuca, has already thrown the towel saying that the club can not overcome Corinthians and maintain its title.
Thus, the last objective that remains is to achieve once again the classification for the Copa Libertadores. With 32 points (ten wins, two draws and seven losses), Palmeiras is fourth. It is the last one that gives direct space in the group phase of the continental tournament. Fifth and sixth placed at the end of the Brasileirão will also have a chance to fight for a place in the tournament, but will have to go through an eliminatory stage.
Thus, in practice, the match against Vasco opens the 2018 season for Palmeiras. The temperamental Cuca had his job guaranteed by the board. Now you need to do something you have not gotten so far: set a team and a game pattern.
To do so, you will not be able to count on two of the few players who were considered absolute holders. Defender Mina and striker Dudu left the match against the injured Ecuadorian team and will not be able to play. The case of the Colombian is more serious. A fracture should get you off the lawns for about three months. Dudu still needs to perform more tests to determine the severity of the injury.
In the rear, the most likely option will be the veteran Edu Dracena. At the front, still without William, also injured, Roger Guedes should be the one chosen by the coach. However, anticipating Cuca’s actions is almost impossible. The coach is very unstable.
The midfielder Moses and half War, also in the process of recovery from injury, were used against Barcelona. But such a decision is more due to despair. They left the field with pain and will hardly be listed among the starters this Sunday.
Bound to the Paranaense Federation, the inexperienced Paulo Roberto Alves Júnior was drawn for the match. He refereed only two matches in Serie A, both from Fluminense and Rio de Janeiro. The goalless draw with Sport in 2015, and a 3-1 win over Atlético-GO in the 2017 season.
Vasco – Palmeiras: Betting Tips
Palmeiras win – Odds: 2.25
Over 2,5 goals – Odds: 2.00
