Philippe Coutinho is out of the classic against Botafogo

Botafogo and Vasco will play this Tuesday (05), the last Rio derby of the season, at 9:30 pm, Brasília time, at the Nilton Santos Stadium. Gigante da Colina will once again have the absence of Philippe Coutinho preserved by the coach, but will have the return of striker Vegetti and midfielder Hugo Moura.

Intense sequence

Philippe Coutinho came from several consecutive games as a starter, and in the semi-final against Atlético Mineiro in the Copa do Brasil, he played the 90 minutes with the field soaked by rain in that game.

Rafael Paiva, Vasco coach, had already rested the player in the previous round, in the match against Bahia in São Januário. During the week, the player complained of pain in his thigh and performed lighter, more specific training.

Returns

Without Coutinho, the coach should choose Payet in his place, and will also have two important returns: top scorer Vegetti and midfielder Hugo Moura, who were suspended in the match against Bahia in the last round of the Brasileirão.

Defender Léo, highly contested by the fans, should once again be included among the starters. He was rested in the last match against Bahia. Rafael Paiva must take the following team to the field: Léo Jardim, Paulo Henrique, João Victor, Maicon (Léo), Lucas Piton, Mateus Carvalho, Hugo Moura, Payet, Emerson Rodríguez, Puma Rodríguez and Vegetti.

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_{Vasco will have Vegetti return to the team (Photo: reproduction/Lucas Figueiredo/Getty Images Embed)}

Two consecutive victories

After having a bad run in the Brazilian Championship, Vasco comes from two consecutive victories, against Cuiabá and Bahia, and arrives ready for the classic against Botafogo, leader of the tournament.

Vasco is in ninth place in the table, with 43 points won, and is still looking for a place in the 2025 Libertadores. Cruz-Maltino's record playing at Nilton Santos, Botafogo's stadium, is excellent, having won three wins in four matches.

Last Rio classic of the year

Botafogo and Vasco face each other at Nilton Santos this Tuesday (05), at 9:30 pm, Brasília time, for the 32nd round of the Brazilian Championship. The Botafoguenses have the chance to distance themselves from second-placed Palmeiras, who lost to Corinthians this Monday (04).

Vasco, on the other hand, is looking to get closer to its rivals above it in the table to keep its chance of playing in the Copa Libertadores da América in 2025 alive and completely free itself from the danger of relegation to Series B of the Brazilian Championship.

Featured Photo: Philippe Coutinho is out of the classic against Botafogo (Reproduction/Lucas Figueiredo/Getty Images Embed)