Grêmio will hold a marathon between Copa do Brasil and Grenal do Gauchão

The draw for the first phase of the Copa do Brasil match set Campinense, from Paraíba, as Grêmio’s opponent. The match is scheduled for March 1, at 8 pm, at the Governador Ernani Sátiro, the Amigão Stadium, in Campina Grande. It’s a long journey for Tricolor, which has a classic Grenal scheduled for the 5th, a Sunday, at 8 pm, at the Arena. Before the confrontation with the biggest rival, it will be 3,746 km to Paraíba.

While waiting for the debut in the national tournament, coach Renato Portaluppi is looking for the best formation for the team. Although the results have been occurring, after all there are seven victories in seven games played in Gauchão, the performance is still not the best, evaluated by the coach himself

Tricolor has been facing smaller teams and, as expected, extremely tight. This makes it difficult to break these schemes. In addition to not having found the ideal lineup, Portaluppi complained about their team in the last two State games. In search of balance in the sectors of the field, Tricolor is careful not to repeat the embarrassment against Mirassol, in the last edition of the tournament.

Campinense, on the other hand, knows the great challenge ahead. Despite being one of the biggest teams in the state of Paraíba, Raposa Cartola does not have great national representation and will have to play smartly to advance in the Copa do Brasil.

This will not be the first time that the two teams have faced each other in the tournament. In 2015, Tricolor, then led by Luiz Felipe Scolari, won the Paraíba team twice. Away from home, by 2 to 1. And, at the Arena, by 2 to 0.

Campinense is not going through a good phase. Both in the State and in the Northeast Cup, the team led by coach Leston Júnior. The fans demand a lot from the directors and ask for the departure of President Danylo Maia. From the Raposa squad, an old acquaintance of the Grêmio fans: the left-back Bruno Collaço, revealed in the club’s youth, played a few years and then was loaned.

After the break this Monday, the group reappears this Tuesday and starts preparing for the duel with São Luiz, in Ijuí, next Saturday, for the 8th round of the State Championship. The trend is for Portaluppi to spare most of the holders due to the long journey.