In a triumphant night at the Arena, Grêmio overcame Internacional 3-1, secured a spot in the Copa do Brasil semifinals, and shifted the pressure behind the scenes for their cross-town rivals.
In an inspired and efficient performance, Grêmio gave their rivals no chance and clinched their spot in the Copa do Brasil semifinals this Thursday (3). With a 3-1 win at the Arena do Grêmio, the Tricolor not only kept their national campaign alive but also brought immediate relief to head coach Luís Castro, who entered the derby under intense pressure due to recent results.
The Imortal‘s victory has shifted the power dynamic between the two giants of Rio Grande do Sul. While the triumph brought tranquility to the Grêmio side, the defeat has put the future of Paulo Pezzolano at the helm of Internacional in doubt, with the Colorados’ board already signaling that the coach’s position will be re-evaluated in the coming days.
Tricolor dominance and a stellar display from Carlos Vinícius
Grêmio started the match determined to settle the score early. With the support of the home crowd, the team built their advantage in the first half. In the 13th minute, following a Wallace corner kick, striker Carlos Vinícius appeared unmarked at the back post to open the scoring.
The pressure did not let up, and in the 21st minute, a quick counter-attack saw Amuzu provide another assist to Carlos Vinícius, who netted the second goal for the Tricolor. Internacional attempted to respond but was thwarted by goalkeeper Weverton.
Second half and sealing the win
Even with a comfortable lead, Grêmio maintained an aggressive stance. In the 22nd minute of the second half, Krovinovic extended the lead to 3-0 after a beautiful passing sequence initiated by Amuzu and Tetê. The goal essentially sealed the win for the Tricolor.
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The Colorado side attempted a late reaction when Vitinho, following an Alan Patrick cross, headed the ball into the net to narrow the gap, but it was not enough to overcome Grêmio’s superiority.
Now, Grêmio’s focus shifts to their next challenge in the Copa do Brasil, where they will face Atlético-MG. The team from Minas Gerais, who eliminated Cruzeiro last Tuesday (1), will be the next obstacle in their quest for the title. Meanwhile, Internacional must try to reorganize for the remainder of the Brazilian Serie A, where they are looking to regain the stability and quality of play they showed earlier in the season.
