Marlon shines as Palmeiras beat Grêmio, go three clear in Brasileiro | OneFootball

Palmeiras beat Grêmio 2-1 on Thursday night in the ninth round of the Brazilian Championship, in a match that marked the competition’s return after the FIFA international break. Marlon Freitas scored both goals for Verdão, while Carlos Vinícius found the net for the visitors from Rio Grande do Sul at Arena Crefisa Barueri, in Barueri (SP).

The match marked a reunion between goalkeeper Weverton, a multiple-time champion with Palmeiras, and his former club. He is currently Grêmio’s starting goalkeeper.

League standings

With this result, Palmeiras move up to 22 points and open a three-point lead at the top over second-placed Fluminense. Grêmio remain on 11 points and drop to 10th place in the table.

📋 Match summary

🟢⚪ PALMEIRAS 2 x 1 GRÊMIO 🔵⚫⚪ 🏆 Competition: Brazilian Championship (4th round) 🏟️ Venue: Arena Crefisa Barueri, in Barueri (SP) 📅 Date: April 2, 2026 (Wednesday) ⏰ Kickoff: 9:30 p.m. (Brasília time) 👥 Attendance: 13,572 fans 💰 Gate receipts: R$ 475,972.50 🟨 Yellow cards: Pedro Gabriel, Gustavo Martins and Dodi (Grêmio) 🟥 Red cards: None

Officiating

Goals

⚽ Marlon Freitas, 43′ 1st half (Palmeiras) ⚽ Carlos Vinícius, 8′ 2nd half (Grêmio) ⚽ Marlon Freitas, 27′ 2nd half (Palmeiras)

🟢⚪ Palmeiras Carlos Miguel; Giay, Murilo, Bruno Fuchs and Jefté (Arthur); Marlon Freitas, Andreas Pereira, Allan (Lucas Evangelista) and Jhon Arias (Khellven); Mauricio (Felipe Anderson) and Flaco López (Ramón Sosa). Head coach: Abel Ferreira

🔵⚫⚪ Grêmio Weverton; Pavon, Gustavo Martins, Viery and Pedro Gabriel; Noriega (Dodi), Nardoni (Zortea), Monsalve (Gabriel Mec), Enamorado (Braithwaite) and Tetê (Amuzu); Carlos Vinícius. Head coach: Luís Castro

How the match unfolded

First half

Palmeiras started on the front foot and, in the seventh minute, Andreas Pereira took a dangerous free kick, but sent it over Weverton’s goal. Shortly after, Grêmio responded. Nardoni played Enamorado through, and he got past Giay before shooting wide. In the 14th minute, Palmeiras created another good chance through Jhon Arias. The No. 11 received the ball from Flaco López, fired a low shot across goal, and saw Weverton get his fingertips to it to prevent the opener.

Palmeiras were able to put Grêmio under pressure, but lacked efficiency in the final ball and in front of goal. In the 24th minute, Giay tried his luck from the right and Weverton made the save. Grêmio then answered with a long-range effort from Carlos Vinícius, which Carlos Miguel pushed away. Arias then played a good pass to Allan, who shot from distance in the 30th minute, but Weverton made a comfortable save.

Soon after, Flaco López found Jefté on the left, and the full-back crossed for Jhon Arias, who arrived in front of goal but shot wide. Palmeiras opened the scoring in the 43rd minute. Andreas Pereira delivered a perfect free kick for Marlon Freitas, who rose above the defense and headed into the net. Weverton got a touch on the ball, but could not keep it out.

Second half

In the second minute, Amuzu made a good individual run and shot from outside the box, forcing Carlos Miguel into a save. Six minutes later, Grêmio equalized. Gustavo Martins played the ball to Carlos Vinícius, who got the better of Bruno Fuchs and unleashed a thunderous strike from outside the area, leaving Carlos Miguel with no chance. In the 15th minute, Marlon Freitas sent Arias into the box, but the Colombian could not reach the ball.

Grêmio threatened again in the 20th minute with two chances, but Carlos Miguel shone. First, Amuzu burst down the left and shot toward the corner, but the Palmeiras goalkeeper pushed it behind for a corner. From the set piece, the delivery curled dangerously toward goal and Carlos Miguel once again cleared the danger, albeit awkwardly.

Palmeiras responded in the 24th minute through Mauricio, who tried a low long-range shot that went close to the left post. Three minutes later, Marlon Freitas scored his second of the game. Felipe Anderson crossed into the box, the defense tried to clear but sent it straight to Verdão’s No. 17, who struck first time to restore the home side’s lead.

Then, in the 45th minute, Khellven received the ball on the right and crossed into the box, but Lucas Evangelista could not get on the end of it.

Upcoming matches

Palmeiras

Grêmio

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.