Em identical situations in the Brasileirão tableGrêmio and Corinthians met on Saturday night for the 18th round of the competition. After balance and a draw in the first stage, the Parque São Jorge team had inspired plays by Yuri Alberto, and goals by Kaio César and André to turn around in the second half, ensuring the 3-1 victory. Gabriel Mec scored for the home team.
The result reassures Fernando Diniz’s team, which reaches 24 pointsstops looking at the relegation zone and starts worrying about the top half of the table. THE Grêmio remains at risk, with 21 points, just 3 above Z-4.
Both teams had an extremely busy first half. The 1-1 draw, when the referee whistled the end of the first half, was fair, but it came at a great cost. THE Corinthians were penalized for mistakes at the beginningbut he knew how to turn things around and was patient to recover and equalize.
The São Paulo team abused passing errors in the first minutes. So much so that Grêmio’s goal came in the 6th minute. Gabriel Mec opened the scoring after a good move by Carlos Vinícius on the left, who kicked the weak ball with the goal open. Bidon tried to clear the line, but the home team’s number 37 was ready to open the scoring. Fernando Diniz looked like he had few friends.
After the blow, Corinthians gradually improved and he only recovered in the second half of the first stage. Grêmio’s third goalkeeper, Thiago Beltrame had a lot of work to do. The black and white midfield improved with Bidon and started to create many opportunities. A draw would be fairest until the fourth referee raises the injury time board.
Yuri Alberto, who had the best chance with a header in the 27th minute, was essential for Corinthians’ equalizer in the 46th. After insisting so much, the The visitors’ goal came from André, who hit a beautiful shot from outside the area after Bidon crossing. Shirt 9 didn’t even need to touch the ball. But the “wall” he made cleared up so that the midfielder could hit a beautiful shot from distance.
The script remained the same when we returned to the changing rooms. THE Grêmio put pressure on Corinthians againjust as he did in the first minutes of the initial stage. But, just like in the first 45 minutes, the visitors were resilient and turned the situation around meteorically.
First, with André, whose star shone once again. After a beautiful exchange of passes that started in the defensive sector, the midfielder received another gift from Yuri Alberto, who served his teammate at the edge of the area. All you had to do was roll the ball into the back of the net to celebrate the Corinthian turnaround.
The number 9 was not in the mood to score goals, but rather to serve his teammates. This time, the lucky one was Kaio César, who was a beautiful find by Fernando Diniz with the absence of Lingard and Memphis, who were in Europe due to private commitments and the call up to the Dutch national teamrespectively. At 21, the number 37 received a beautiful pass from Yuri Alberto, cut Viery in a formidable way and put the third goal in the Grêmio goalkeeper’s net.
To make matters worse, Beltrame was expelled to avoid a promising move from Matheus Bidu, who came face to face with the Grêmio archer. Luís Castro was forced to use the fourth goalkeeper, Gabriel Menegon, just 17 years old. The Portuguese coach heard shouts of “donkey” and “olé” coming from the stands due to his substitutions and his team’s performance.
Six minutes were added, but they weren’t nearly enough to change the story of the match. Corinthians watched time pass until the final whistle.
If the two teams entered the field in identical situations, now the scenario is different. The two clubs come into break for the 2026 World Cup and there are 53 days without official matches. Corinthians will play again on July 22nd against Remo, while Grêmio visits Mirassol on the same day. Both matches for the Brasileirão.
TECHNICAL SHEET:
GREMIO – Thiago Beltrame; Marcos Rocha (João Pedro), Viery, Wagner Leonardo and Pedro Gabriel; Arthur Melo, Leonal Pérez and Gabriel Mec (André); Tetê (Enamorado), Carlos Vinícius (Gabriel Menegon) and Braithwaite (Amuzu). Coach: Luiz Castro.
CORINTHIANS – Hugo Souza; Matheuzinho, Gabriel Paulista, Gustavo Henrique and Matheus Bidu; Raniele (Allan), André (André Carrillo), Breno Bidon (Dieguinho) and Rodrigo Garro (Matheus Pereira); Kaio César (Zakaria Labyad) and Yuri Alberto. Coach: Fernando Diniz.
GOALS – Gabriel Mec in the 6th minute, André in the 46th minute of the first half; André at 19, Kaio César at 21 minutes of the second half.
YELLOW CARDS – Wagner Leonardo, Enamorado; Viery (Grêmio); Rodrigo Garro (Corinthians).
RED CARD – Thiago Beltrame (Grêmio).
REFEREE – Lucas Paulo Torezin (PR).
AUDIENCE – 42,359 fans.
INCOME – R$ 2,611,781.30.
LOCATION – Arena do Grêmio (RS).
