The Grenal this Sunday (5), at 8 pm (Brasília time), at the Arena do Grêmio, in Porto Alegre, for the 10th round of the Campeontao Gaúcho, will be the first big test for both teams in 2023. Undefeated, the rivals did not meet difficulty in the State and secured themselves in the semifinals in advance. The tricolors, current five-time champions, lead the competition, with 25 points. The Colorados have six points less.
RELATED ?⚽️?? Check out the athletes who will be available to defend Tricolor in the classic #grenal438. Grêmio on the field is one for all and all for one! ?? #Gauchão2023 pic.twitter.com/7zrQAD3PZE
— Grêmio FBPA (@Gremio) March 4, 2023
At Grêmio, the novelty may be the return of midfielder Felipe Carballo, who was out of the 2-0 victory over Campinense, last Wednesday (1st), at Mané Garrincha, for the Copa do Brasil, due to muscle fatigue. If he doesn’t play, Mathías Villasanti is the option. The tendency is for coach Renato Portaluppi to climb the Tricolor with Adryel; João Pedro, Bruno Alves, Walter Kannemann and Reinaldo; Felipe Carballo (Mathías Villasanti), Pepê and Bitello; Franco Cristaldo, Vina and Luiz Suarez.
Speaking of Suárez, the 36-year-old striker arrives at the first Grenal defending a historic scorer in classics. There were 40 played in his career, considering the passages through Uruguayan (Nacional), Dutch (Ajax), English (Liverpool) and Spanish (Barcelona and Atlético de Madrid) football, with 26 goals and 11 assists. Almost one goal participation per game.
? Related players for classic Gre-Nal 438. #VamoInter ?? pic.twitter.com/nQ1T7Redo2
— Sport Club Internacional (@SCInternacional) March 4, 2023
If Grêmio has Suarez, Inter has Luiz Adriano. Back at Beira-Rio after 16 years, the striker was introduced last Tuesday (28), participated in the week’s training sessions and could make his debut for Colorado, after 16 years, precisely in a Grenal, a classic he played once – and won. A base child and world champion for the team in 2006, he hasn’t played since February 4, when he left Antalyaspor (Turkey). This year, the number 9 made six appearances, five as a starter, scoring two goals.
As Mano Menezes has the entire squad at his disposal, Luiz Adriano should start the game on the bench. The coach is expected to climb Inter with Keiller; Fabricio Bustos, Vitão, Gabriel Mercado and Renê; Gabriel Baralhas, Carlos de Pena and Alan Patrick; Mauricio, Wanderson and Pedro Henrique.
In Gauchão, the four best placed, at the end of the first phase, advance to the semifinals. Grêmio can be reached by Inter in the standings, but would still be ahead of the rival, even if both are tied in points, by the number of victories. Colorado, despite already classified, still needs to secure second place, in a dispute that has Ypiranga-RS as its main opponent.
This Sunday’s match (5) will be number 438 in the history of Grenal. Inter leads the statistics for the main classic in Rio Grande do Sul, with 160 wins, against 139 for Grêmio and another 138 draws. The last duel was on March 23 of last year, for the semifinal of Gauchão, with Colorado triumphing, away from home, by 1-0. Despite the result, Tricolor was classified for the decision, for having won the first game, in Beira-Rio, also in Porto Alegre, by 3 to 0.
