Botafogo and Vasco define, this Saturday, at 3:05 pm, in São Januário, who will be the champion of the Rio Cup. More than the title of a tournament that has lost importance in recent years, especially this season, when it became a consolation prize for the teams that finished fifth to eighth in the Campeonato Carioca, the traditional rivals want the title to arrive with morale at the beginning of Series B of the Brazilian Championship.

The Vasco has the advantage of deciding in São Januário, your home, and also to play for a draw, as they won the first leg by 1-0 on Sunday in Engenhão with Argentine top scorer of the goal Germán Cano. The Botafogo must win by two goals to stay with the cup. If you win by a goal, the title will be decided on penalties.

Vasco says he treats this weekend’s classic as “another important element of preparation” for Serie B, a thought shared by Botafogo. This will be the last test of the two teams before the debut in the national tournament. The glorious team plays its first game against Vila Nova, Friday, at 21.30, in Goiânia, while the Cruzmaltina team faces Operário-PR at home, on Saturday, at 11 am.

In addition to the prospect of improving the players’ spirits for the second division dispute, the two boards are looking at the R $ 1 million prize reserved for the champion, money that will help to improve the chaotic financial situation of the clubs.

Vasco has three absences confirmed for the decision: captain Leandro Castan, Bruno Gomes and Marquinhos Gabriel. The defender was diagnosed with an edema in the posterior muscle of the right thigh, the result of a hard foul suffered in the first game. The midfielder will be preserved and the midfielder continues to recover from injury to his left thigh.

Defender Ernando and defensive midfielder Romulo, who have carried out physical reconditioning work in recent weeks, are available. The first has not been on the field for more than a month, since April 18, when he participated in the 2-2 draw with Boavista. Both start the match between the reserves.

Vasco made a positive assessment of the campaign in the competition and pointed out that he used the State well as a laboratory, so that the young MT, Galarza and Figueiredo gained prominence during the tournament. In 14 games, the Cruzmaltino team had six wins, five draws and three defeats, two of them with the under-20.

“Being here in the professional is a dream come true for me. Since I was a child I have been working to receive these opportunities up here. This Carioca was a lot of learning and growth. I tried to learn a lot from my elders, especially in my way of playing Professor Cabo has been asking me to improve my protection of the ball “, said striker Figueiredo.

The Cruzmaltino team is betting on its experienced and solid defense, a strength that pleases coach Marcelo Cabo, in addition to the scent of goals from striker Cano, who has already scored seven times in nine matches this season.

Botafogo is a team that was even more reformulated than the rival and has difficulty adjusting in 2021, without being able, for the time being, to find a regularity and stability that puts it with one of the candidates to gain access to the elite of national football.

The only change in relation to the first duel should be the entry of Ricardinho in place of Matheus Frizzo. Right-back Jonathan felt discomfort in the anterior muscle of his left thigh and is low again.