Gre-Nal: five issues Grêmio must fix before the Copa do Brasil semi-final place decider | OneFootball

According to Globo.com, Grêmio host Internacional at the Arena on Thursday at 20:00 to decide a Copa do Brasil semi-final place.

Last week’s first leg ended 0-0 at Beira-Rio. Grêmio go through with any win, another draw sends it to penalties.

Grêmio must be more clinical. They are among the Brasileiro’s weakest attacks. Carlos Vinícius, on 18 this season, is eight games without a goal, and Braithwaite has four, none since 20 May across 13 games.

Midfield balance still eludes Luís Castro. After trials he settled on three holding players, with Krovinovic alongside Noriega and Villasanti lately, though the sample is small. The coach says the Croatian and the Paraguayan have shown physical wear.

In-game swings worry him too. At Beira-Rio they were solid before the break, then dipped after half-time. On Sunday the team allowed 30 shots to the league’s bottom club yet scored three and won at home.

The wings are unsettled. Jovane Cabral, left starter in the first leg, felt muscle discomfort before facing Chapecoense and is a doubt. Amuzu, his stand-in and former first choice, has also shown fatigue.

On the right, full-back Diego Caito’s injury forced changes. Against Chapecoense, Pavon again covered at full-back and Enamorado started wide. The right-back’s availability for Thursday remains uncertain.

Defensive assurance must rise. Chapecoense produced more than 30 efforts at the Arena. Castro played that down, but Grêmio have conceded in eight of the last 10, and Gustavo Martins is back competing with Kannemann to partner Wallace.

Source: Globo.com

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”