Ituano and Vasco face each other this Sunday, at 18:30 (Brasília time), at the Novelli Jr. stadium, in Itu, for the last and decisive round of the Série B of the Brazilian Championship. The duel became known as the “final access”, since the victor is guaranteed in the 2023 Serie A. The draw favors Cruz-Maltino, who is ahead in the table.
For Ituano, the game represents the chance of something unprecedented: reaching the elite of national football. Champion of the C Series in 2021, Galo de Itu can amend the second consecutive access and reach a level that it has never occupied. With 57 points, Rubro-Negro is in fifth place and is only interested in winning. The team comes from five consecutive victories playing at home and does not lose playing at Novelli Jr. four months ago.
Without suspension, Ituano has forwards Brenner, injured, and Vinicius Paiva (who belongs to Vasco and the club will not pay the fine to start him) as casualties. On the other hand, goalkeeper Jefferson Paulino is free to return to the starting lineup. The doubts are on the left-back, where Mário Sérgio returned in the last game from the bench and, this time, he can appear as a starter, and in midfield. If you want to opt for a more experienced team, Carlos Pimentel should promote the entry of Gerson Magrão in the place of Lucas Nathan.
Vasco arrives in Itu with shaken morale after wasting, at home, the chance to go up in the last round. A simple victory over Sampaio Corrêa was enough, but the team from Maranhão won in a comeback, with a goal in the last bid. The team led by Jorginho, then, advanced the trip and extended the concentration in a resort in the city of this Sunday’s game to have maximum focus on the most important commitment of the season.
With Edimar suspended, Jorginho was forced to move at left-back and could give Luiz Henrique a chance. In addition, Raniel is back after serving suspension and will be the starter in attack. Andrey and Yuri Lara, who were doubtful because of pain, should go to the field.
Ituano analysis
In the last 30 matches, they have recorded five wins, five draws and five defeats as a visitor, with 15 goals scored and 17 conceded, against eight wins, five draws and two defeats at home, with 19 goals scored and eight conceded. In the last 10 home matches for the championship, Ituano has recorded eight wins and two draws, having won 26 points out of 30 possible.
In Serie B, Ituano has a streak of five wins in its last home games and hasn’t lost any of the last 11 games. In the matches played at Novelli Jr, the most frequent result at the end of the first 45′ was the 0‑0, which happened in 10 of their 18 matches. Their offense has scored regularly, as they have scored goals in eight of the last 10 matches for this competition. In their home matches for the competition there is a tendency for few goals, since nine of the last 18 matches ended with Under 1,5 goals. In 37 matches in the competition, they never managed to turn the score around in the 12 matches in which they conceded the first goal. There is a period that stands out in the last 18 home matches for this competition: they scored 9 of 23 goals between minutes (76’‑90′).
Vasco analysis
Vasco is a team affected by the home factor, stronger when they play with the support of their fans, since in the last 30 games they have recorded four wins, two draws and nine defeats as a visitor, with a total of 13 goals scored and 24 conceded. At home, they won nine victories, five draws and one defeat, with a total of 28 goals scored and nine conceded.
The last away match ended in a draw by (1‑1) against Sport Recife. In the last 10 away matches for the championship, Vasco has recorded a win, a draw and eight defeats, having won four points out of 30 possible. The team has conceded goals to the opponent in nine of the last 10 matches, so they haven’t shown great defensive strength, but their attack has scored regularly, as they have scored goals in 8 of the last 10 matches for this competition. In 37 matches for this competition, they have conceded the first goal 13 times and have only turned the score around twice.
