Vasco da Gama vs Chapecoense: Can Coutinho weave old magic?

Vasco da Gama take on Chapecoense this Thursday, February 5 (23:00 GMT) in Brazil’s Serie A Campeonato. The visitors look to build on a 4-2 victory on the opening day against Santos. Vasco’s season started with disappointment; a 2-1 defeat to Mirassol.

Read on for my Vasco da Gama vs Chapecoense predictions, complete with the latest team news and match odds.

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Team News

Defensive midfielder Jair is a long-term absentee for the home side. The Vasco da Gama man has been out months with an ACL injury and is expected to return in June at the earliest.

A cruciate ligament problem has also waylaid Mateus Cocao, with the midfielder out until at least September. Vasco are also without defender Paulo Henrique, who has suffered a foot injury.

Football Odds

Chapecoense are without Rafael Thyere (thigh), Bruno Matias (cruciate), Neto Pessoa (knee) and Bruno Pacheco (hand).

Vasco da Gama vs Chapecoense Odds

Vasco are priced at 4/6 to emerge victorious, as they seek a first Serie A win of the season. Chapecoense are 4/1 to rack up a second victory of the fresh league campaign. The draw is marketed at 13/5.

Chapecoense forward ‘GB’, or Gabriel to his Mum, is 13/8 to score anytime. Over 2.5 goals is priced at 10/11.

Philippe Coutinho to score anytime @ 11/5

The mercurial ex-Liverpool man is doing the time-honoured ‘finish your career in Brazil’ gimmick that many Selecao greats get involved with. Despite the sharp drop-off in performances that Aston Villa fans endured from the attacking midfielder, Coutinho is actually doing pretty well back in Brazil.

Last season’s 56 games were the most Coutinho has ever managed in a single season. An 11-goal return was his best strike rate since he netted the same amount on loan at Bayern Munich in the 2019/20 season.

Coutinho is off the mark already one game into the Serie A campaign, having netted Vasco’s goal in the 2-1 loss to Mirassol. The former Barcelona boy also has one goal from two outings in the Campeonato Carioca. I reckon the ghost of Anfield’s past scores here.

Vasco da Gama to win @ 4/6

Despite a disappointing start to the campaign, I think Vasco can notch a win in their first home game of the league campaign. Chapecoense have just been promoted, having finished third in the second tier last term. Vasco had a disappointing campaign, with a 14th-placed spot to show for their efforts. But they still have more quality in their squad in my view.

Coutinho is capable of magic and he seems on-song. Leo Jardim remains an ever-present presence between the posts. Full back Jose Luis Rodriguez is a threat on the front-foot, with two goals to his name already this term. I think there is more than enough in the Vasco da Gama ranks to secure a home win.

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