Vasco vs Athletico Paranaense – News and Probable Lineups

This Sunday, May 10, Vasco da Gama will face Athletico Paranaense at Sao Januario in Rio de Janeiro for a clash in round 15 of the Brasileirao, featuring two teams with differing fortunes in the league.

Heading into this match, Vasco is looking for more consistency, as a challenging string of league results has left the team in the lower part of the table, facing mounting pressure to perform in front of their home fans. However, recent positive displays in the Copa Sudamericana have contributed to rebuilding some confidence within the squad.

Contrastingly, Athletico Paranaense enters this fixture in a more stable position in the league standings, sitting in the top half and still aiming to close the gap to the top four. Even though they are traveling without several key players, the Furacao has confidence in securing points on the road due to their organized defense and strong overall performance this season.

Match overview

Under the management of Odair Hellmann, Athletico Paranaense has enjoyed one of the most steady campaigns in the Brasileirao, currently positioned fifth with 23 points from 14 matches, having achieved seven wins. The team has also demonstrated one of the best defensive records in the league, having conceded only 15 goals.

The Furacao solidified their standing with a 3-1 victory over Vitoria in the 13th round, where Kevin Viveros scored twice, but their momentum faced a hiccup in the following round due to a frustrating goalless draw against Gremio at the Arena da Baixada.

This result came at a significant cost for the Parana side, as top scorer Viveros, right winger Benavidez, left winger Esquivel, and head coach Odair Hellmann all received suspensions, necessitating assistant manager Fabio Moreno to lead the team from the sidelines at Sao Januario. The absence of Viveros—responsible for 40 percent of Athletico’s league goals with eight—poses the largest setback for the visitors.

Athletico’s challenges are compounded by their poor away performance, failing to secure a win on the road in the Brasileirao since triumphed over Internacional in the opening round. This extends their winless streak to five matches away from home, and despite missing several key figures, Moreno is expected to maintain the team’s usual 3-4-3 formation.

Historically, Vasco da Gama has the upper hand in this matchup, winning 24 of the 56 encounters between the two teams, while Athletico has claimed victory in 18, with 14 matches resulting in a draw. However, their latest encounter in the Brasileirao in May 2024 saw Athletico secure a 1-0 victory at the Ligga Arena, and another win here would apply pressure on Sao Paulo in the battle for a Copa Libertadores spot.

Meanwhile, Vasco starts the 15th round sitting in 13th place with 17 points from 14 matches, recording four wins, five draws, and five losses. This puts Renato Gaucho’s side only two points above the relegation zone, despite finding the net 20 times this season in the league.

Their ebbs and flows have been especially noticeable away from home, as Vasco hasn’t won in their last six league matches on the road. Their last two outings in the Brasileirao highlight their inconsistent campaign; starting with a defeat to Corinthians at Itaquera while holding a numerical advantage for most of the second half, followed by a thrilling 2-2 draw against Flamengo at the Maracana, where Hugo Moura equalized late with a diving header after Vasco was trailing 2-0.

While Vasco’s league performance continues to vary, Renato Gaucho’s rotation approach has yielded success in the Copa Sudamericana, where the club leads Group G following a commanding 3-0 home win and an impressive comeback victory away at Audax Italiano in Chile.

At Sao Januario, Vasco typically performs well against Athletico Paranaense, having won 16 of their 25 home meetings, drawing seven, and losing just twice. With several players returning fresh after Copa Sudamericana fixtures, the passionate home crowd is expected to play a crucial role as Vasco seeks a win to distance themselves from danger in the lower half of the standings.

Team News

Athletico Paranaense arrives at Sao Januario with five confirmed absences, including top scorer Kevin Viveros, whose eight league goals represent 40 percent of the club’s total in the competition. Additionally, right winger Benavidez is suspended due to yellow card accumulation, Lucas Esquivel is unavailable after a sending-off against Gremio, while Julimar and Jadson remain out due to injury.

The visitors will also be without head coach Odair Hellmann, who is serving a touchline suspension after receiving his third yellow card of the season, which means assistant manager Fabio Moreno will take charge from the sidelines.

With the absence of Viveros, Esquivel, and Benavidez, adjustments in the attacking lineup are anticipated, although Athletico is likely to stick with their preferred 3-4-3 formation, featuring Joao Cruz, Bruninho, and Renan Peixoto leading the front line.

Renato Gaucho, on the other hand, is also facing selection issues ahead of this fixture at Sao Januario, with Vasco da Gama missing four confirmed players, including suspended duo Paulo Henrique and Cauan Barros following the draw with Flamengo, while Jair and Mateus Carvalho are still recovering from injuries.

Adjustments in Vasco’s lineup are starting to take shape, with Puma Rodriguez anticipated to replace Paulo Henrique at right back, and Hugo Moura—who scored the late equalizer in the derby against Flamengo—expected to bolster the midfield. Moreover, Cuiabano has returned from a thigh injury and is competing for the left back spot against Lucas Piton, who started the Copa Sudamericana match against Audax Italiano in Chile.

Vasco da Gama probable starting XI:

Garden; Rodriguez, Cuesta, Renan, Cuiabano; Moura, Mendes; Rojas, Gomez, David; Spinelli

Athletico Paranaense probable starting XI:

Saints; Dias, Teran, Aguirre; Gilberto, Portilla, Gustavo, Mendoza; Bruninho, Cruz, Peixoto

Vasco comes into this fixture with encouraging momentum after achieving consecutive wins in the Copa Sudamericana—a 3-0 triumph against Olimpia and a 2-1 comeback victory over Audax Italiano—showcasing emerging players like Spinelli and Matheus Franca. The atmosphere at Sao Januario is expected to further energize the home side.

In contrast, Athletico Paranaense faces a notably tougher challenge without the suspended striker Kevin Viveros, whose scoring has been central to their solid league campaign. With the visitors already struggling away from the Arena da Baixada this season, Vasco seems well placed to capitalize and edge out a closely contested match.