Grêmio and Athletico-PR square off this Thursday at 21:30 at the Arena for the 33rd round of the Campeonato Brasileiro, in a fixture carrying high stakes for both ends of the table.
The home side enters the contest energized by their first away victory of the Brasileirão campaign, secured on Monday with a 1-0 triumph over Coritiba at the Couto Pereira. That result also marked the first win for manager Renato Portaluppi upon his return to the club, breaking a seven-match winless streak and lifting Grêmio to the 17th position with 34 points. A victory on Thursday would lift the Porto Alegre club out of the relegation zone.
Conversely, Athletico-PR travel south looking to defend their place in the top four and halt a two-match winless run that includes a defeat against Palmeiras and a recent draw with Vitória. The visitors lean on a strong historical record on the road, having lost only one of their last nine away fixtures in the league under coach Odair Hellmann.
For Grêmio, coach Portaluppi weighs whether to stick with a three-center-back defensive scheme utilized successfully against Coritiba or revert to a conventional two-man backline. Defender Kannemann returns from suspension but has faced physical conditioning issues. Diego Caito remains sidelined with an injury and is expected to be replaced by João Pedro, while Pavon is dealing with muscular pain and is likely unavailable.
Grêmio’s probable starting lineup features Weverton; Gustavo Martins, Wallace, Balbuena; João Pedro, Villasanti, Noriega, Marlon; Enamorado, Carlos Vinicius, and Amuzu. The club lists Carlos Vinícius, Diego Caito, João Pedro, Nardoni, Villasanti, and Weverton as suspended or hanging on yellow-card warnings, while Pavon, Danilo Barbosa, Nardoni, Jovane Cabral, and Diego Caito populate the injury list.
For Athletico-PR, the primary lineup question surrounds star striker and league top scorer Viveros, who is recovering from knee discomfort, traveled with the squad to Porto Alegre, and will undergo a final fitness assessment before kickoff. Coach Hellmann welcomes back defenders Arthur Dias and Dantas, full-back Benavídez, and forward Vargas from the medical department. However, the visitors will be without suspended midfielder Jadson and right-back Gilberto Moraes, both serving bans for accumulating three yellow cards. Claudinho remains in postoperative recovery from an ACL injury, and Terán is out of the team’s plans.
Athletico-PR’s projected eleven lists Mycael; Arthur Dias, Aguirre, Lucas Esquivel; Benavídez or Gilberto Junior, Juan Portilla, Luiz Gustavo, Mendoza; Leozinho, Kevin Viveros or Rivaldo, and João Cruz. Dantas, Felipinho, Leozinho, Luiz Gustavo, and Mycael enter the match on yellow-card warnings.
The officiating team assigned for the fixture is led by referee Alex Gomes Stefano from Rio de Janeiro, supported by assistant referees Thiago Rosa de Oliveira Esposito and Carlos Henrique Alves de Lima Filho. The video assistant referee is Rodrigo D’Alonso Ferreira from Santa Catarina, and Leonardo Willers Lorenzatto acts as the fourth official.
