Vitória and Grêmio will meet on Monday at 20:00 at Barradão in Salvador to close the 26ª rodada of the Campeonato Brasileiro. The matchup arrives with different pressures on each side: Vitória is trying to stop a bad run, while Grêmio has a chance to strengthen its position in the table.
Vitória comes into the game after four straight defeats and a Copa do Brasil exit to Vasco, a stretch that has pushed the club closer to the relegation zone. On Thursday, Fábio Mota held a press conference to explain the team’s poor moment and backed Jair Ventura and the squad. That public support matters, especially with the schedule tightening and the margin for error shrinking.
Jair Ventura has also pointed to physical problems inside the group, which could lead to changes in the lineup. The coach said the team has injury issues, and Vitória is dealing with nine injury absences. On Saturday, Wanderson was integrated into the professional squad, giving the club one more name to consider as it prepares for the final match of the round.
What Grêmio brings into the match
Grêmio arrives in better shape after beating Chapecoense in the previous round of the Brasileirão and then advancing to the semifinals of the Copa do Brasil after beating its biggest rival. That combination gives the team a more positive backdrop than Vitória’s, even if the visit to Barradão is still a difficult one.
In the league table, Grêmio is 15th with 28 points. A win in Salvador would not solve everything, but it could open a six-point gap to the relegation zone and give the club some breathing room at a key point in the season. For a team trying to move away from danger, that makes Monday’s game a meaningful one.
Broadcast coverage will be available on Premiere and Sportv. With the venue, time and table stakes all aligned, Vitória vs Grêmio closes the round with real importance on both sides of the pitch.
