Vitória and Grêmio will meet at 20h on Monday at Barradão in Salvador, a 26ª rodada fixture of the Campeonato Brasileiro that arrives with the home side under immediate pressure. The match will be shown on Premiere and Sportv.
The game is drawing attention now because Vitória come in after four straight defeats and a Copa do Brasil exit to Vasco, while Grêmio arrive with a different mood after reaching the semis da Copa do Brasil and beating Chapecoense in the last Brasileirão round. Grêmio are 15th with 28 points and can open a six-point gap to the relegation zone if they win, which gives this trip a direct table edge even before the first whistle.
Fábio Mota tried to steady Vitória’s week on Thursday, admitting the situation was bad but backing Jair Ventura and the squad publicly. That support matters because the team is carrying nine injury absences and the suspension of Cacá, leaving the coach with few clean choices. Brítez is expected to step in for Cacá, Jamerson is the likely replacement for Ramon, and Matheuzinho may give way to Pochettino because of physical issues. Erick and Tarzia may also leave the attack for technical reasons, which shows how much of the lineup is still being settled only hours before kickoff.
Grêmio have their own reasons to rotate. Amuzu is out because of physical wear, Marlon is suspended and Jovane Cabral is injured, while Diego Caito has been included after playing through discomfort in the Copa do Brasil. Villasanti, Wallace and Kannemann may also be preserved from the starting lineup because of physical wear. Savio Pereira Sampaio will referee the match.
That leaves the biggest unanswered piece as the lineups themselves. Vitória know they need a response in front of their own crowd, Grêmio know three points would stretch daylight between them and the danger zone, and the final shape of both sides may only become clear when the teams walk out at Barradão on Monday night.
