Vasco and Fluminense face off in the first leg of the semifinal of the Copa of Brasil 2025 this Thursday, December 11th, at 8pm (Brasília time), at Maracanã, Rio of The Rio classic opens the fight for a place in the final of the national tournament, with Cruzmaltino as hosts. The live broadcast takes place on sportv, Premiere and Amazon Prime, in addition to real-time coverage on ge.
Attacking midfielder Agustín Canobbio is out of the match due to suspension, confirmed after the accumulation of cards in Brasileirão. The official lineup comes out an hour before the ball rolls, but Soteldo must replace him in the likely formation of Fluminense. Vasco is looking to recover after seven defeats in the last eight national games, while Tricolor arrives undefeated in seven matches.
- Transmission options: sportv and Premiere on closed TV, Amazon Prime for streaming.
- Online coverage: ge with minute-by-minute bidding, statistics and free videos.
- Stadium: Maracanã, with an expected audience of close to 78 thousand fans.
Classic broadcast channels
sportv narrates the confrontation with a team dedicated to high-level games in Brazilian football. Assinantes of sports packages access the match in high definition throughout the national territory.
Premiere offers pay-per-view with in-depth tactical analysis and multiple cameras. The platform fully displays the decisive phases of Copa of Brasil 2025.
Related to Fluminense without Canobbio
Tricolor released the list of players available for Maracanã. Goleiros: Fábio, Marcelo Pitaluga and Vitor Eudes.
Defenders: Freytes, Guga, Ignácio, Renê, Samuel Xavier, Thiago Santos and Meias: Hércules, Jhon Arias, Martinelli, Nonato and Paulo Henrique Ganso.
Attackers: Everaldo, Kevin Serna, Keno, Soteldo and Yeferson Soteldo. Canobbio is not part of the group due to suspension for three accumulated yellow cards.
Arbitration confirmed for semi-final
Raphael Claus directs the main whistle at the Rio stadium. The referee from São Paulo has played 15 games this season, with an average of 4.2 cards per game.
Danilo Ricardo Simon Manis acts as assistant 1 on the sides. Alex Ang Ribeiro covers auxiliary flag 2.
Daniel Nobre Bins manages VAR for controversial bid reviews. Alex Gomes Stefano serves as fourth official on the field.
The refereeing quartet prioritizes fluidity in intense duels like the classic. Claus refereed two clashes between the rivals in 2025 without serious controversy.
Effect of suspending Canobbio on Fluminense
Canobbio received his third yellow card in the penultimate round of Brasileirão. The attacking midfielder contributed four goals and three assists this season, forcing adjustments in midfield.
Soteldo takes over the position and trained intensely during the week to gain rhythm. The tricolor team maintains offensive balance with options such as Arias and Ganso.
Luis Zubeldía tests variations in 4-3-3 to compensate for his absence. Outras casualties include Cano due to a knee injury and Manoel with a similar problem.
Nonato is the only one left in the squad for the first game. The focus is on possession of the ball to explore transitions against Vasco.
Escalation of Fluminense without Canobbio
Zubeldía aligns Fábio; Samuel Xavier, Thiago Silva, Freytes and Renê; Martinelli, Hércules and Lucho Acosta; Soteldo, Serna and Everaldo. Replacing Canobbio with Soteldo preserves the offensive tactical structure.
Martinelli and Hércules anchor the marking in the middle against Coutinho and Barros. The attack seeks speed with Serna on the wings and Everaldo centrally.
Recent training has emphasized set pieces to exploit Thiago Silva in defense. Fluminense advanced to the quarterfinals by beating Palmeiras on aggregate 4-2.
Vasco recent performance
Cruzmaltino concluded Brasileirão with seven defeats in the final eight games. The 5-0 defeat by Atlético-MG in the final round highlighted defensive weaknesses.
Fernando The club is aiming for the trophy that has been absent since 2011, with massive support from the fans at Maracanã.
Philippe Coutinho returns after suspension and reinforces the offensive creation. The squad prioritizes compactness to contain the fast tricolor attack.
Absences and probable formation in Vasco
Diniz scales Léo Jardim; Paulo Henrique, Cuesta, Robert Renan and Puma Rodríguez; Thiago Mendes, Barros and Coutinho; Nuno Moreira, Andrés Gómez and Rayan. Lucas Piton is missing due to an injury to his left knee, out until the end of 2025.
Jair treats a problem in his right knee and Adson fracture in his left tibia. Garré continues in physical transition and was not called up for the duel.
The coach tested high marking in collectives to put pressure on Flu from the beginning. Rayan gains minutes with speed on counterattacks, exploring spaces.
Historical context of the Rio confrontation
The teams faced each other three times in 2025, with balance in the final results. Fluminense won the first round of Brasileirão 2-1 in Maracanã.
Vasco reacted in the return with a 2-0 victory over their rival in the same stadium. Pela Copa of Brasil, recent history shows two tricolor classifications in knockout stages.
The return game is scheduled for Sunday, December 14th, at 8:30 pm, at Maracanã. The fans fill the stands to influence the score from the opening minutes.
