Gremio will welcome Estudiantes to Estádio Couto Pereira in their final group-stage match of the Copa Libertadores on Saturday. The visitors are set to finish at the bottom of the Group C table while the hosts are assured of a place in the knockout round and need a win to finish as the table toppers.
The hosts met Huachipato in the Libertadores earlier this week, recording a 1-0 away win, bouncing back with a victory after suffering a 2-0 loss to RB Bragantino in the Brazilian Serie A last week.
The visitors have endured a three-game winless run in all competitions but arrested their losing streak after two games on Monday, playing out a 1-1 draw against Godoy Cruz in the Argentine Primeira Division.
Gremio vs Estudiantes Head-to-Head
The two teams have squared off five times in all competitions thus far. The hosts have the upper hand in these meetings with three wins. The visitors have just one win to their name and one game has ended in a draw. They last met in the reverse fixture in April with Gremio recording a 1-0 away win.
Gremio form guide (all competitions): W-L-W-D-L
Estudiantes form guide (all competitions): D-L-L-W-W
Gremio vs Estudiantes Team News
Gremio
Cristian Pavón and Geromel returned to training and might start from the bench. Mathías Villasanti has been called up by the Paraguay national football team for the friendly games and is unavailable. Jhonata Robert, Mila, and André Henrique remain sidelined with injuries.
Injured: Jhonata Robert, Mila, André Henrique
Doubtful: Cristian Pavón, Geromel
Suspended: None
Unavailable: Mathías Villasanti
Estudiantes
Santiago Ascacibar, Guido Carrillo, and Eric Meza are nursing injuries and have not traveled with the squad to Brazil while Fabricio Iacovich is also unavailable as he is with the Argentina football team at the Olympics. Tiago Palacios is suspended due to yellow card accumulation.
Injured: Santiago Ascacibar, Eric Meza, Guido Carrillo
Doubtful: None
Suspended: Tiago Palacios
Unavailable: Fabricio Iacovich
Gremio vs Estudiantes Predicted XI
Gremio Predicted XI (4-3-3): Marchesín; João Pedro, Rodrigo Ely, Walter Kannemann, Reinaldo; Dodi, Pepê, Franco Cristaldo; Everton Galdino, Yeferson Soteldo, Diego Costa
Estudiantes Predicted XI (4-4-2): Matías Mansilla; Eros Mancuso, Luciano Lollo, Zaid Romero, Gaston Benedetti; Enzo Pérez, José Sosa, Fernando Zuqui, Franco Zapiola; Edwuin Cetré, Javier Correa
Gremio vs Estudiantes Prediction
Imortal Tricolor have won two of their last three games in all competitions while keeping two clean sheets and will look to build on that form. They have won their last three Libertadores games while keeping clean sheets and are strong favorites. They have an unbeaten home record in this fixture.
Los Pincharratas are winless in their last three games in all competitions, suffering two losses while conceding seven goals, and will look to improve upon that record. They are winless in their five away games in the Libertadores, failing to score in three games, and are likely to struggle here
Considering the current form of the two teams and Gremio's unbeaten home record in this fixture, the hosts are expected to record a comfortable win.
Prediction: Gremio 2-0 Estudiantes