Vasco vs Botafogo – News and Probable Lineups

This Sunday morning, the Sao Januario Stadium will witness another intense Classico Alvinegro between Vasco da Gama and Botafogo in the 10th round of the 2026 Brasileiro season.

An exciting contest is anticipated, as the home team comes into this fixture with a five-game unbeaten run in the league, while the visitors, coming off a 3-2 home victory last time out, embark on a new era under their recently appointed head coach.

Match overview

Having struggled without a win in their first four outings, Vasco seems to have found their rhythm over the past five matchdays, remaining undefeated with three wins and two draws.

A significant portion of this turnaround can be attributed to coach Renato Portaluppi, who recently took over after the departure of Fernando Diniz.

Portaluppi began his third term with Vasco against Palmeiras, pulling off a comeback to secure a 2-1 win. This was followed by a thrilling 3-3 draw against Cruzeiro and consecutive home victories against Fluminense (3-2) and Gremio (2-1).

In their latest match, Vasco settled for a 1-1 draw away at Coritiba. They took the lead in the first half and had the majority of possession in the second, but conceded late in the game, missing out on what could have been their fourth win in five outings.

Currently, Vasco da Gama ranks eighth in the Brasileiro, accumulating 12 points from three wins, three draws, and three losses in nine games, having scored and conceded 14 goals.

With three consecutive victories at home, the hosts are in fine form at Sao Januario and will look to continue this momentum as they strive for a place in the top 10.

On the other hand, Botafogo comes into Sunday’s match following a solid performance in front of their home crowd, having edged past Mirassol 3–2 last Wednesday. That win brought them out of the relegation zone and into 15th place, on nine points.

Their current record displays three wins against five losses, with a total of 14 goals scored and 18 conceded—marking them as having the weakest defence in the Brasileiro this season, which poses a concern for new head coach Franclim Carvalho, who was appointed on Thursday.

Carvalho is familiar with the club, having previously served as Artur Jorge’s assistant in a period when Botafogo achieved success in both the Copa Libertadores and the Brasileiro in 2024.

Now, he faces the challenge of guiding Botafogo up the standings. After their recent victory, they will aim to carry that momentum into this crucial encounter with Vasco.

Team News

Vasco’s left-back Cuiabano remains sidelined due to a muscle issue that kept him out of the last match.

Claudio Spinelli (ankle), Jair (knee), and Mateus Carvalho (knee) are also anticipated to miss the game.

Meanwhile, Puma Rodriguez and Andres Gomez have returned from international responsibilities.

For Botafogo, Chris Ramos, Marcal, Kaio Pantaleao, and Joaquim Correia are currently unavailable.

However, Alexander Barbosa is back from suspension and can be selected.

Midfielder Danilo is expected to make a comeback after a productive period with the Brazilian national team, where he scored his first international goal. He is likely to return to the midfield alongside Edenilson.

Botafogo does not have any players at risk of suspension due to yellow card accumulation.

Vasco da Gama probable starting XI:

Garden; Henrique, Renan, Saldivia, Cuiabano; Moura, Tche Tche, Mendes; Hinestroza, David, Moreira

Botafogo probable starting XI:

Raul; Vitinho, Bastos, Barboza, Telles; Danilo; Edenilson, Rodriguez, Montoro; Cabral, Santos

Vasco enters this fixture in good spirits, having secured three wins in their last five games, and will be encouraged by the support of their home fans at Sao Januario.

Although Botafogo have been inconsistent in the Brasileiro, they have achieved victory in two of their last three matches and have a tendency to display a strong attacking approach.

Considering the historical context of this Rio derby alongside the fluctuating form of both teams, a hard-fought draw filled with goals appears to be the most likely result.