Flamengo and Gremio face off in a highly anticipated Libertadores clash

Gremio, host of the first leg and with vast experience in the competition, is playing its third consecutive semifinal in the Libertadores and wants to stay alive to pursue its fourth continental title. The team led by Renato Gaucho, who won the Libertadores both as a player and as a Gremio coach, conquered the title in 2017.

However, Flamengo, which had not reached a Libertadores semifinal in 35 years and only has one continental title, is considered the favorite not only because of its current form and being the home team in the second leg on October 23 at Maracana, but also because of the star-studded squad it assembled this year.

The most popular club in Brazil is the clear leader in the Brazilian Championship, with a three-point advantage over Palmeiras and fifteen over Gremio, which is seventh in the standings, and it has the current league top scorer, Gabriel Jesus "Gabigol", who has scored 18 goals in 22 matches.

The Flamengo lineup includes internationals who have played in European football such as fullbacks Filipe Luis and Rafinha, goalkeeper Diego Alves, midfielder Gerson, and forward Bruno Henrique, as well as notable foreign players such as Spanish defender Pablo Mari and Uruguayan midfielder Giorgian de Arrascaeta.

Under the guidance of Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus, the Rio de Janeiro club has become a dominating force in the past three months and is favored not only to win the Brazilian Championship but also the Libertadores.

However, Flamengo will have to visit Gremio on Wednesday, the same team that eliminated them in the semifinals of the Libertadores in 1984 and is known for excelling in this tournament.

The Porto Alegre-based tricolor squad has players who won the Libertadores title in 2017 and have great experience in the competition, such as Argentine Walter Kannemann, Bruno Cortez, Michel, Everton, Pedro Geromel, and Luan—all of whom are likely starters this Wednesday.

The Brazilian duel in the Libertadores is not only a clash between two of the best coaches in the country at the moment, but also between two prolific strikers: Gabigol as the current league top scorer and Everton as the highest scorer, champion, and standout player of Brazil in the Copa America last July.

"There is no advantage for either team. Flamengo has a good squad, but our squad has been together for three years, knows each other very well, and is entering its third semifinal," says Bruno Cortez.

"Everyone knows the respect we have for our opponents, but we will not change our way of playing and attacking, especially because we will be playing at home with the support of our fans," he added.

While Jorge Jesus will have all his starters available, Renato Gaucho will not be able to count on defender Geromel, who is recovering from an injury, and there is still doubt about the situation of playmaker Luan, who was the best player in the Libertadores in 2017 and depends on medical clearance.

The main Gremio players are more rested after not being part of the team that lost 2-1 on Sunday in their visit to Fluminense, while Flamengo's players have accumulated more minutes, as Jorge Jesus has used them in every game, including Saturday's match in which the league leader drew 0-0 at home against Sao Paulo.

- Possible lineups:

Gremio: Paulo Victor; Galhardo, David Braz, Kannemann, Bruno Cortez; Michel, Matheus Henrique, Alisson, Luan, Everton; and Diego Tardelli.

Coach: Renato Gaucho.

Flamengo: Diego Alves; Rafinha, Rodrigo Caio, Pablo Mari, Filipe Luis; Willian Arao, Gérson, Everton Ribeiro, Giorgian de Arrascaeta; Bruno Henrique and Gabigol.

Coach: Jorge Jesus.

Referee: Argentine Néstor Pitana will be assisted on the sidelines by his compatriots Juan Belatti and Hernán Maidana.

Stadium: Arena do Gremio in Porto Alegre.

Time: 20.30 (Paraguayan time).