In football, it has become common for players to refer to coaches as teachers. This Wednesday (15), Mestre’s Day, at Arena Castelão, Martín Palermo’s Fortaleza hosts Fernando Diniz’s Vasco da Gama. THE National Radio broadcasts the duel, valid for the 28th round of the Brazilian Championship, starting at 9:15 pm (Brasília time).
Leão do Pici is coming off a 2-1 comeback victory over Juventude at the Alfredo Jaconi stadium, in Caxias do Sul. The result took the northeastern team to 24 points, but still within the Z4 (relegation zone) in 18th place in the table. Coaching his first club in Brazil, the 51-year-old Argentine Palermo has recorded three wins and two defeats ahead of Fortaleza with just over a month of work.
Focus for Wednesday! 👊🦁
📸 Mateus Lotif/FEC#FortalezaEC pic.twitter.com/SHyq0QHwtM
— Fortaleza Esporte Clube 🦁 (@FortalezaEC) October 14, 2025
The former player arrived to replace his fellow countryman Juan Pablo Vojvoda and has been pleasing the fans with his intense style and offensive mentality. The home team’s missing player is midfielder Matheus Pereira, suspended due to an accumulation of yellow cards. Tricolor Cearense’s Medical Department is also rushing to make several players available, including goalkeeper João Ricardo, full-backs Weverson and Bruno Pacheco, midfielders Lucas Crispim and Lucca Prior and striker Moisés.
Vasco also comes from a victory in the Brasileirão, beating Vitória 4-3 in São Januário. The triumph lifted Cruzmaltino to 11th place in the table with 33 points. Also aged 51, Fernando Diniz took over Gigante da Colina in May this year and won his first victory at the club, precisely against this Wednesday’s rival, an opportunity in which he triumphed 3-0 in the first round of the Brasileirão.
Back to work focusing on Fortaleza! 💪⚽💢
Week started at CT Moacyr Barbosa ✔️
📸: Matheus Lima | #VascoDaGama pic.twitter.com/5bJll1ljCo
— Vasco da Gama (@VascodaGama) October 13, 2025
A psychologist by training, who focuses on controlling possession of the ball, Diniz will not be able to count on left-back Paulo Henrique, who played in Tokyo for the Brazilian national team, including scoring the first goal for Carlo Ancelotti’s team in the 3-2 defeat to Japan. Puma Rodríguez, who played for the Uruguay national team on this FIFA Date, is expected to replace PH. The returnee to the Vasco defense is Colombian Carlos Cuesta.
National Radio Broadcast
THE National Radio broadcasts Fortaleza and Vasco with narration by André Luiz Mendes, comments by Rodrigo Ricardo and reporting by Carlos Molinari. You can follow the National Ball Show here:
