Grêmio Crashes Out of Copa do Brasil After Goalless Draw Against CSA

Grêmio’s Copa do Brasil campaign ended prematurely on Tuesday night at Arena do Grêmio. The five-time champions failed to overcome a first-leg deficit against CSA, drawing 0-0 in Porto Alegre.

This result, combined with their previous 3-2 defeat in Maceió, eliminated the traditional powerhouse from the competition’s third round. CSA’s defensive resilience proved decisive throughout the match.

Despite Grêmio’s dominance in possession and numerous scoring opportunities, Gabriel Félix delivered an outstanding performance in goal for the visitors. The CSA goalkeeper denied clear chances from Cristian Olivera and Braithwaite in the first half.

Grêmio continued to press after the break. Marlon threatened with a long-range effort while Monsalve struck the woodwork. The hosts created several promising attacks but lacked the finishing touch needed to break the deadlock.

Controversy erupted in the 43rd minute of the second half. Grêmio thought they had scored through Aravena following a corner kick. Referee Matheus Delgado Candançan disallowed the goal for a foul by Kannemann.

This decision prompted fierce protests from Grêmio players, culminating in Arezo’s red card for excessive complaints. The result extends Grêmio‘s winless streak to five consecutive matches.

Mano Menezes’ Grêmio Faces Relegation Pressure

Mano Menezes’ squad now faces mounting pressure as they sit in the relegation zone of the Brazilian Championship with just four points from five games.

For CSA, this victory marks a historic achievement. The Série C club reaches the Copa do Brasil round of 16 for the first time in their 21 tournament appearances. They have now accumulated R$7.7 million in prize money from their impressive cup run.

Grêmio must quickly regroup for their upcoming league fixture. They host Bahia on Sunday at 11:00 AM in a crucial match for their Brasileirão campaign. The team will also focus on their remaining competition, the Copa Sudamericana.

CSA returns to action on Saturday against Confiança in the Série C championship. They await the Brazilian Football Confederation’s draw to learn their round of 16 opponent in the Copa do Brasil.