Porto Alegre – Grêmio has been crowned champion of the 2026 Campeonato Gaúcho after securing a 1-1 draw against Internacional at the Beira-Rio stadium on Sunday afternoon. Building on their commanding 3-0 victory in the first leg of the final, played at Arena do Grêmio, the Tricolor managed to withstand a determined effort from their rivals and claim the title for the 44th time in club history. The result leaves Internacional with frustration over the officiating and a focus on rebounding in the upcoming Brasileirão season.
Entering the match with a significant disadvantage following the first-leg defeat, Internacional adopted an aggressive approach from the outset. Manager Paulo Pezzolano made a bold tactical change, deploying Allex, typically a midfielder, at left-back to compensate for the suspension of Bernabei. Grêmio, under Luís Castro, mirrored their starting lineup from the first encounter and opted for a more cautious strategy, prioritizing counter-attacks.
The early stages of the match saw Internacional pressuring the Grêmio defense. In the 12th minute, Carbonero received a pass from Alan Patrick and found himself with a clear opportunity, but his shot was expertly saved by Weverton. Internacional continued to threaten, with Victor Gabriel nearly connecting with a header from a corner kick shortly after. Borré also had a chance in the 35th minute, but couldn’t capitalize on a cross from Vitinho.
Late in the first half, Internacional was initially awarded a penalty when Alan Patrick was brought down by Monsalve and Gustavo Martins inside the area. However, after a VAR review, the referee overturned the decision, sparking protests from both teams and escalating the tension on the pitch. Capitalizing on the resulting instability, Grêmio took the lead in the 53rd minute. Gustavo Martins rose highest to head home from a corner kick, extending Grêmio’s aggregate advantage.
Grêmio made two substitutions at halftime, with Luís Castro bringing on Wagner Leonardo for Viery, who was on a yellow card, and Tetê. Internacional continued to push for a goal, and in the 9th minute, Mercado hit the crossbar with a header from another corner.
Grêmio Holds On Despite Late Penalty
Despite their advantage, Grêmio faced continued pressure from Internacional. Alan Patrick forced Weverton into another save in the 20th minute with a well-struck free kick. However, the game took a dramatic turn in the 32nd minute when Wagner Leonardo committed a foul on Borré inside the penalty area. After consulting VAR, the referee awarded a penalty and sent off Wagner Leonardo. Alan Patrick converted the penalty in the 36th minute, injecting some late excitement into the match.
The referee added 10 minutes of stoppage time, but Grêmio successfully defended their lead, securing the Campeonato Gaúcho title – their first at the Beira-Rio in 20 years. Both teams now turn their attention to the Campeonato Brasileiro.
The final lineups were as follows:
Inter: Rochet. Bruno Gomes (Juninho), Mercado, Victor Gabriel and Allex (Alan Rodríguez); Ronaldo, Paulinho Paula and Alan Patrick; Vitinho, Carbonero and Borré. Técnico: Paulo Pezzolano.
Grêmio: Weverton; Pavón, Gustavo Martins, Viery (Wagner Leonardo) and Marlon; Noriega, Arthur (Dodi) and Monsalve (Willian); Enamorado (Kannemann), Amuzu (Tetê) and Carlos Vinícius. Técnico: Luís Castro.
The match was officiated by Rafael Rodrigo Klein, assisted by Maíra Mastella Moreira and Tiago Augusto Kappes Diel, with Marcello Ignacio Domingues Neto on VAR. The game was played at the Estádio Beira-Rio in Porto Alegre, with an attendance of 41,251 (37,512 paying fans), generating a revenue of R$ 1,017,946.50. The goals were scored by Gustavo Martins for Grêmio and Alan Patrick for Internacional.
Looking Ahead
Grêmio’s victory marks a significant achievement for the club and its supporters, ending a 20-year drought of championship titles won at the Beira-Rio. Internacional will need to quickly regroup and focus on their upcoming commitments in the Brasileirão, aiming to translate their attacking intent into positive results. Both teams will undoubtedly analyze this encounter as they prepare for the challenges ahead in the national league.
What are your thoughts on Grêmio’s championship win? Share your opinions and predictions for the Brasileirão season in the comments below!
