Rio de Janeiro, May 1 (IANS) Brazilian club Vasco da Gama will host Argentina’s Lanus Wednesday knowing that anything less than victory could prove fatal to their Copa Libertadores hopes.
The round of 16 first-leg duel at Rio’s Engenhao stadium comes barely 72 hours after Vasco was eliminated from the Copa Carioca by Botofogo.
Lanus managed a 3-1 victory over Racing, Friday but the club is still lagging in 13th position in Argentina’s clausura tournament, reported Xinhua
A win for Lanus, Wednesday would make them favourites to progress to the quarter-finals given the return leg will be played in Argentina.
Vasco coach Cristovao Borges realizes his team cannot afford to falter.
“We need to win to put ourselves in a good position by performing better for the return match in Argentina,” Borges said.
Borges will be without influential centre-back Dede who is still recovering from a left leg injury.
