Vasco da Gama vs Palmeiras Copa do Brasil semifinal, Digi Mart USA News: To return to the Copa Libertadores after nine years and remain alive in the fight for a title this season, Vasco da Gama must defeat Palmeiras, second place in the Brasileirão and Copa Libertadores finalists, by two goals at São Januário on Sunday (8). Despite the difficult task, Vasco supporters showed plenty of optimism upon arriving at the stadium, but they differed on whether the match was not being held at the Maracanã.
Systems analyst João Paulo de Oliveira, 33, expressed confidence in Vasco’s current form and celebrated the opportunity for São Januário to host such an important Copa do Brasil match. “The expectation is that we qualify for the Copa do Brasil final.
I believe we need to play a good match, as we did against Athletico-PR, and take Vasco to the final,” the fan said.
Lawyer Daniel Couto, 45, acknowledged Palmeiras’ strength but expressed confidence in the support of fans at São Januário. He also said he views Grêmio, the other finalist, as a more accessible rival for Vasco than Atlético-MG in a possible Copa do Brasil final.
“I think it is a very difficult match. We all know Palmeiras is a very strong team, but I believe we, with our fans, have the conditions to reverse it.
Regarding the final, I think Grêmio is a weaker team than Atlético-MG,” he said.
Physician André Correia, 47, was divided over the semifinal being held at São Januário. Although the players prefer to play there, he noted that the Maracanã would allow more fans to attend.
“The players say they prefer to play here, but for the fans there is frustration because more people could come to the Maracanã,” he said.
Correia also acknowledged the difficulty of the opponent but said he is confident of at least one win that would take the tie to a penalty shootout. “I think it’s a very tough match.
Palmeiras lost by only one goal, so I believe we have to seek a victory and perhaps reach qualification on penalties,” he said.
Businessman Luis Cláudio Borges, 47, expressed considerable optimism about qualifying and already projected a reunion with Renato Gaúcho, Grêmio’s coach, who managed Vasco in the first half of the year, in a possible Copa do Brasil final. “Vasco is the team of comebacks; I don’t even celebrate until it’s 3-1.
In the final, Grêmio is the ideal opponent; we have to beat Renato, the revenge against him,” he said.
Borges also gave his opinion on the venue. He argued that Vasco should play home matches at the Maracanã but said São Januário was the best choice for this match.
“A big team like Vasco should also play at the Maracanã, but today the ideal is São Januário because of the pitch and because the players are more accustomed to it,” he concluded.
