Gremio haven’t had a stable start to the season in the Brazilian Serie B, and this will be one issue to address when they get to host Sampaio Correa in their next outing. Going into this game, Gremio are fifth in the standings with 18 points while Sampaio are ninth on 15 points. A top quality Gremio carries to this game is solidity in defence. They are actually the best in that department in the whole Serie B, having conceded four times in the opening 12 matches. They go into this game with five straight clean sheets and a six-game unbeaten run. However, they haven’t been strong in attack, and in their last five matches, they’ve failed to score in four. A result of strength in defence and bluntness in attack is that Gremio’s last nine matches have produced under 2.5 goals. In the last four home league games, Gremio have registered three wins and are unbeaten.

Sampaio Correa are coming from a 2-0 win over Nautico; their second win in the last five matches. This was also the second time in five matches that they managed more than a goal, while they’ve failed to score in two of their last five matches. Six of Sampaio’s last 10 matches have produced under 2.5 goals but if there’s an area that needs urgent addressing is their away run. Sampaio have not managed a win in their last 16 away matches in Serie B. They have losses in nine of the 10 away games in the league, and only one clean sheet in that period. As Gremio seeks a return to the top flight, this will be the first ever game between these sides in their history.