With an automatic place in the group stage of the Copa Libertadores within reach, Internacional travel to Sao Januario on Thursday for a date with Vasco da Gama on matchday 34 of the Brasileiro Serie A campaign.
Vasco currently sit ninth in the table after suffering a 3-0 defeat versus Fortaleza the last time out, while the club from Porto Alegre defeated Fluminense 2-0 before the international break, putting them in fifth place.
Match preview
© Imago
A spot in the Copa Libertadores is nearly over for Vasco da Gama, who have suffered consecutive defeats domestically by a 3-0 margin both times.
Heading into this encounter, Gigante da Colina are 14 points below Sao Paulo for the final Libertadores qualifying spot next season and will need to win their remaining five league fixtures and hope Tricolor Paulista lose all of theirs.
Of the sides currently in the top half of the Brasileiro Serie A table, the Rio-based club have scored the fewest goals (36) and have also conceded the most (49).
Rafael Paiva's men have conceded multiple strikes in their last three domestic affairs while giving up three or more goals on five occasions in this competition.
They have been a lot better at home lately, though, winning two successive league matches in front of their supporters and going unbeaten in four consecutive home games.
Eight of the 12 Serie A triumphs for Vasco da Gama in 2024 were by a single goal, including their last two encounters on home soil.
© Imago
From the end of the summer until now, Internacional have steadily climbed up the Brasileiro table, riding a 14-match league unbeaten run heading into this encounter.
Thanks to that form, they are in the thick of the race for an automatic spot in the Copa Libertadores group phase next year, even with Flamengo for fourth, though the latter hold the tiebreaker edge with one more domestic triumph.
Internacional have conceded just once in their last three league games while winning their previous two contests by a 2-0 margin.
Roger Machado's men have conceded the third-fewest goals in Serie A this season (28), allowing a goal or fewer in 13 domestic encounters away from home.
In 2024, this team have collected 24 away points in this competition, going unbeaten in their last six league games as the visitors.
Colorado have won their last five domestic affairs versus Vasco da Gama, with the last three being by a 2-1 score, including their previous visit to Sao Januario a season ago.
Team News
© Imago
In their previous league fixture before the international window, Vasco da Gama were without Paulinho, Guilherme Estrella and JP, all of whom are dealing with knee injuries.
David will not be available for the home side on Thursday because of an ACL injury, and Dimitri Payet is sidelined due to a thigh issue.
Leo Jardim has been under siege of late, facing a combined 13 shots in his previous two games between the sticks, conceding three goals in both of those instances.
As for Internacional, they did not have Ivan at their disposal against Flu, as he is recovering from a sore knee, Lucca has a muscle strain, Fabricio is dealing with a sore leg and Gabriel Mercado will be sidelined due to an ACL injury.
Alexandro Bernabei and Bruno Gomes will be forced out of this encounter, having each collected another caution in their previous league contest.
Rafael Santos Borre and Bruno Henrique scored second-half goals in their previous game, while Sergio Rochet only had to make two stops, to pick up his second successive clean sheet.
Vasco da Gama possible starting lineup:
Jardim; P. Henrique, Maicon, Leo, Piton; Souza, Moura, Carvalho; Rayan, Vegetti, Coutinho
Internacional possible starting lineup:
Rochet; Santos, Rogel, Vitao, Bernabei; Romulo, Maia; Valencia, Patrick, Wanderson; Borre
We say: Vasco da Gama 0-1 Internacional
Without Payet, Vasco have been lacking creativity going forward, and we do not believe a side as well-organised and in-form like Internacional will face many dangerous attacks from the home side this week.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
