Verdict: Gremio draw no bet
Best Odds: 2/3
Bookmaker: Dachbet
Desperate to kickstart their campaign in the early hours of Wednesday, Gremio will welcome Fortaleza to Porto Alegre.
Gremio
Starting with the hosts, while Gremio might have got June underway in the midst of what was a real purple patch, the Immortal Tricolor have come crashing back down to earth in a worrying fashion. Last seen over the weekend putting in another downbeat display as they slumped to a 1-0 loss away at Brazilian giants Palmeiras, Mano Menezes’ camp have come tumbling down the Serie A standings and they are suddenly looking over their shoulder at a looming relegation scrap. Suffering Copa Sudamericana heartbreak last week as they watched their adventure come to an end thanks to a 2-1 aggregate defeat against Peruvian outfit Aliamza Lima, they have now failed to win any of their previous five consecutive appearances across all competitions.
Gremio Team News
Shown what was a costly first-half booking away at Palmeiras last weekend, former LA Galaxy star Cristian Pavon will miss out through suspension here. Likewise, all still dealing with respective injury issues, Gremio will once again be without the trio of Rodrigo Ely, Joao Pedro and Colombian international Gustavo Cuellar.
While Martin Braithwaite might have failed to find the net since returning from Brazil’s summer break, the one-time Barcelona striker will spearhead Gremio’s charge in the early hours of Wednesday.
Fortaleza
As for the visitors, while Fortaleza might have sprung an iconic upset last season as they clinched a fourth-place finish among Brazil’s elite, Renato Paiva’s side have drastically failed to find a similar level this time around. Despite claiming a much-welcomed boost last weekend as they clinched a 3-1 victory against Bragantino, the former Botafogo boss still finds his squad sat in the drop zone. Mustering just a single win from their previous 11 appearances across all competitions, the Ceara-based outfit have gained an unwanted reputation for their glaring issues on the road. Last seen on their travels getting hit with a 2-1 loss against Bahia, Fortaleza have lost their previous four straight showdowns away from the Castelao by an aggregate score of 11-1.
Fortaleza Team News
Limping off with a first-half knock against Bragantino over the weekend, Fortaleza are expected to be without one-time River Plate midfielder Tomas Pochettino here. Likewise, not featuring since returning from the summer break, former Chelsea star David Luiz remains on the sidelines.
Coming off the bench and bagging a maiden Serie A strike on Saturday, 21-year-old Lucca Prior should get some more minutes under his belt. Ajax loanee Gaston Avila will start at the heart of Paiva’s defence in midweek.
Gremio vs Fortaleza Key Factors to Consider
- When Gremio and Fortaleza last met back in October 2024, the Immortal Tricolor collected a 3-1 victory in Porto Alegre.
- Gremio are unbeaten in all of their previous 10 consecutive home fixtures across all competitions (four wins, six draws).
- Fortaleza have mustered just a single win from any of their previous 11 appearances across all formats.
- Wednesday’s guests have lost their last four consecutive showdowns outside of Ceara by an aggregate score of 11-1.
- Fortaleza have failed to win any of their eight historic trips to Porto Alegre.
Conclusion
Desperate to kickstart their Seire A charge in midweek, Gremio will certainly be excited to make a return to home soil here. Smelling the chance to drag themselves away from a looming relegation scrap, Wednesday’s hosts are unbeaten in all of their previous 10 straight showdowns in Porto Alegre across all competitions. With Fortaleza losing all of their last four straight matchups away from the Castelao by an aggregate score of 11-1, Gremio should also be excited by their most recent battle against the midweek guests. Landing a 3-1 victory when they welcomed the relegation scrappers to town last season, we are backing a home draw no bet.
Verdict: Gremio draw no bet
Best Odds: 2/3
Bookmaker: Dachbet
