Gremio (Brazil) – Fluminense (Brazil)

Gremio FBPA wasted the chance of finishing as group C winners following a disappointing 1-1 home draw against Estudiantes (at Estadio Couto Pereira) on June 8th, when they conceded the equaliser in the 83rd minute. As a result, they finished in second spot on ten points, trailing leaders The Strongest by goal difference. On Saturday, a mostly alternative XI beat Cuiaba EC 3-1 away to make it 24 points in 20 rounds, sitting into 13th place of the Brazilian league table. Gremio have been unbeaten in the last seven in regular time, winning four and drawing three. At home, they claimed three victories and one draw across the last four.

Meanwhile, defending champions Fluminense FC haven’t found any difficulties to finish the group stage as group A leaders, accumulating 14 points in six rounds thanks to a 3-2 home success over Alianza Lima in round six. On Saturday, O Tricolor lost 2-0 away at CR Vasco da Gama in a heated city derby, which means Mano Menezes’s men dropped down to the 18th spot of the league table on 20 points, one behind EC Vitoria (first non-relegation spot). Flu won only one of their last four games in all competitions, drawing one and losing two, and they hold a two-game losing streak as the visiting side.

The defending champions Fluminense are struggling lately, almost at the bottom of the brazilian league, and they will have to play here without some important names like their top scorer German Cano, and veterans Felipe Melo and Marcelo, so I’ll go with Gremio who have all players available to win this first leg at home.

BET: Gremio -0.5 @ 2.01