Porto Alegre, May 10, 2026, 19:01 BRT
Pedro, Samuel Lino, and Gonzalo Plata will lead Flamengo’s attack as Leonardo Jardim goes for an aggressive front line in Sunday’s Campeonato Brasileiro clash at Grêmio, with kickoff at 19:30 BRT at Arena do Grêmio. On the other side, Grêmio lines up Weverton in goal, Balbuena with the armband, and Carlos Vinícius spearheading their offense, as Luís Castro opts for a more defensive setup.
Flamengo can’t afford to slip up—Palmeiras remain just ahead at the summit. A real-time league table had Flamengo sitting in second with 27 points from 13 matches, Fluminense right there with them on points but from two extra fixtures. Grêmio, meanwhile, found themselves at 17 points, hovering dangerously close to the Z-4, Brazil’s relegation zone.
The match brings something of a reset after a weird stretch. ge pointed out Grêmio had just beaten Deportivo Riestra in the Copa Sudamericana and was riding a five-game unbeaten streak. Flamengo, for its part, landed in Porto Alegre straight from Colombia, after its Libertadores clash with Independiente Medellín was scrapped.
Here’s how Grêmio line up: Weverton; Pavón, Balbuena (the captain), Gustavo Martins, Viery, Pedro Gabriel; Leonel Pérez, Noriega, Gabriel Mec; Amuzu, Carlos Vinícius. The club announced the starting eleven just before kickoff, according to CNN Brasil.
Flamengo lined up with Rossi in goal; Varela, Léo Ortiz, Léo Pereira, and Ayrton Lucas across the back; a midfield of Evertton Araújo, Jorginho, and Carrascal; and up front, Samuel Lino, Plata, and Pedro. Carrascal returned to the league starting XI, and Pedro stayed in his usual spot as the target man.
Jardim will be missing Alex Sandro due to suspension, and Arrascaeta, Pulgar, and Paquetá are sidelined with injuries. Flamengo, on the other hand, confirmed Carrascal has completed his suspension and is cleared to play in the Brasileirão.
Before kickoff, Flamengo coach Jardim downplayed the stakes. “Grêmio values organization. We have to respect that,” he told Correio do Povo in Porto Alegre. Still, he made it clear Flamengo would stick to its approach and “look for the three points.” Correio do Povo
Jardim pointed to Gabriel Mec, the 18-year-old attacker in Grêmio’s starting lineup, calling him “a young player, a talent.” Still, he made it clear Flamengo’s main focus remains Grêmio’s collective threat. Correio do Povo
Castro opted for a defensively loaded lineup for Grêmio, stacking the back with three centre backs for the third match in a row, Correio do Povo reported. Noriega and Leonel Pérez anchored the midfield, while Gabriel Mec, Amuzu and Carlos Vinícius lined up in front.
Still, Flamengo’s path isn’t straightforward. According to ge, Grêmio haven’t dropped a match at the Arena in over 100 days, and Flamengo are without midfielders like Arrascaeta, Pulgar, and Paquetá—names that usually set the tone. Grêmio controlling the tempo could flip the pressure right back onto the supposed favorites.
This matchup doesn’t leave much room. Flamengo counts 126 encounters—44 of those went their way, 40 ended level, and Grêmio took 42. The most recent league clash? A 1-1 draw at the Maracanã in 2025.
Espírito Santo’s Davi De Oliveira Lacerda takes charge as referee, while Marco Aurélio Augusto Fazekas Ferreira will handle VAR duties. Pay-per-view access in Brazil is through Premiere.
