An extra man became almost irrelevant when the team lacked collective shape
Em Curitiba, o Grêmio encontrou não um adversário intransponível, mas a própria incapacidade de transformar vantagem em vitória. Com o Athletico reduzido a dez homens na segunda etapa, o Tricolor teve diante de si uma oportunidade rara — e a deixou escapar em silêncio. O empate sem gols na Arena da Baixada é menos um resultado do que um espelho: reflete um time que, longe de casa, ainda não encontrou a si mesmo.
- Mesmo com um jogador a mais durante quase toda a segunda etapa, o Grêmio não conseguiu criar uma única chance clara de gol — a vantagem numérica virou irrelevância coletiva.
- A atuação foi tão apagada que as avaliações individuais perderam sentido: sem ritmo, sem forma e sem propósito, nenhum jogador conseguiu se destacar positivamente.
- Riquelme foi expulso nos minutos finais, transformando a frustração do empate em um encerramento ainda mais amargo para o lado gaúcho.
- O Tricolor segue sem vencer fora de casa no Brasileirão — um padrão que já não pode ser atribuído ao acaso e exige resposta urgente antes dos próximos compromissos.
O Grêmio deixou Curitiba com um ponto que parece menos conquista do que desperdício. Na Arena da Baixada, o Tricolor teve o jogo nas mãos quando o Athletico ficou com dez homens ainda na primeira etapa — mas não soube o que fazer com essa dádiva. A equipe moveu a bola sem objetivo, criou pouquíssimo e pareceu se conformar com o empate antes mesmo do apito final.
A defesa funcionou sem ser exigida. Gustavo Martins salvou em cima da linha num momento tardio que poderia ter custado até a derrota — um lampejo de salvação individual num tarde coletivamente esquecível. No ataque, o cenário foi de desconexão generalizada: Pavon errou o que não devia, Nardoni saiu lesionado sem aproveitar os espaços, e Gabriel Mec acelerou quando o momento pedia paciência.
Os substitutos não trouxeram soluções. Braithwaite mal tocou na bola. André Henrique tentou articular o meio-campo sem encontrar parceiros. Riquelme entrou tarde e saiu mais cedo ainda — expulso, somando mais frustração a uma tarde já difícil.
O que torna o resultado especialmente preocupante é o contexto: jogar com um homem a mais e não vencer revela algo além de uma má atuação isolada. O Grêmio segue sem triunfos fora de casa no campeonato, e esse padrão — tático, emocional ou coletivo — precisará ser quebrado antes que o calendário torne a tarefa irreversível.
Grêmio left Curitiba with nothing to show for their trip to Arena da Baixada on Saturday—a goalless draw that felt less like a point earned than an opportunity squandered. The Tricolor had a gift handed to them early: Athletico played the second half with ten men after a first-half expulsion. Yet even with that numerical advantage, Grêmio produced almost nothing worth remembering. The team moved the ball without purpose, created few genuine chances, and seemed content to accept the stalemate rather than hunt for a winner.
This was Grêmio's latest chapter in a growing away problem. The Brasileirão season has become a study in contrasts for the club—competent at home, listless on the road. Curitiba was no exception. The collective performance was so muted that individual assessments became almost meaningless; when a team lacks rhythm and shape, no single player can rescue it. Weverton, the goalkeeper, barely had to work. The defense, led by Balbuena and the pairing of Gustavo Martins and Wagner Leonardo, was functional but never tested severely. Gustavo Martins did make one crucial clearance off the line late in the match that would have handed Athletico a win, a moment of individual salvation in an otherwise forgettable afternoon.
The attacking half of the field was where Grêmio's malaise became most visible. Pavon, a player who has made a habit of combining effort with careless mistakes, delivered more of the same—three out of ten for effort and execution. Nardoni departed injured early in the second half, having failed to exploit the space available to him. Léo Perez struggled visibly with the ball at his feet. Gabriel Mec accelerated play when the situation called for patience, a tactical misreading that disrupted what little rhythm Grêmio had built. Pedro Gabriel offered occasional flashes of creativity but was otherwise unremarkable, even erring in his defensive duties.
The substitutes offered no remedy. Enamorado, who had at least troubled Athletico's defense before the interval, was withdrawn at halftime. Braithwaite barely touched the ball, a non-presence in a match that needed his presence. André Henrique tried to construct something in midfield but found no willing partners. Riquelme entered late and added little before receiving a red card himself, compounding the frustration. Willian came on to steady the creative play but instead merely occupied space.
What made the result particularly galling was the context. A team playing with a man advantage should dominate possession and create danger. Instead, Grêmio seemed almost relieved when the final whistle came. The draw keeps them winless away from home in the league—a statistic that speaks to something deeper than a single poor performance. Whether it is a tactical problem, a confidence issue, or simply a lack of collective will, the pattern is now impossible to ignore. As the season unfolds, these away fixtures will accumulate, and Grêmio's title hopes will depend on whether they can solve this problem before it becomes insurmountable.
Citas Notables
Grêmio wanted very little to win and left Curitiba with the draw in another weak away performance— Match analysis
La Conversación del Hearth Otra perspectiva de la historia
How do you explain a team that gets a numerical advantage and still can't create danger?
It's not really about the numbers on the field. When a team lacks collective shape, when players aren't synchronized, an extra man becomes almost irrelevant. Grêmio moved the ball but without intention.
Was there a moment where you thought they might break through?
Enamorado gave them something in the first half—he actually made Athletico's defense uncomfortable. But once he came off at halftime, there was nothing. It was like they accepted the draw before they even tried to win it.
The substitutes didn't help?
They made it worse, honestly. Braithwaite barely touched the ball. Riquelme came on and got sent off. It felt like the bench had nothing to offer.
What does this say about the team's away form?
It's a pattern now, not an accident. Winless on the road in the league. That's not bad luck—that's a structural problem. Either they don't believe in themselves away from home, or the tactics don't travel.
Can it be fixed?
It has to be. If it isn't, these away matches will pile up and the season will slip away.