It was a tight encounter as both teams lined up to start their campaign with a victory. The game was well played from the beginning, with both teams looking for the goal. The decisive moment and winning goal came at the end of the first half. A brilliant sequence of play between Alisson and Isaque was finished off by Diego Souza.
In the second half, Fluminense came back more aggressive and came to be very dangerous in the beginning.
But Vanderlei made a good start. Grêmio did well on their part to neutralize their opponents’ threats. Renato Gaúcho’s men advanced the mark and managed to contain the pressure attempt of the Rio Tricolor. Pepê in particular had a good performance and came close to scoring on more than one opportunity. It just wasn’t his night and he was unlucky not to get at least a goal to his name.
On the evening, Grêmio had slightly more possession of the ball (53%) and five more shots than Fluminense did. Although, both sides ended the game with four shots on target and appeared to be equally matched for each other.
For Diego Souza, the veteran forward scored his 108th goal in the era of points of the Brazilian Championship, since 2003. The 35-year-old showed he still had it in him.
In the first match of Gremio without Everton Cebolinha, sold to Benfica, by Jorge Jesus, the player chosen to fulfill the role was the young Pepê. The youngster did well and already looks promising in a Gremio jersey.
Gremio will return to the field next Wednesday, against Ceará, in Castelão. While Fluminense will play Palmeiras at Maracanã on the same night.
