Grêmio entered the relegation zone for the first time this year in the fourth round of the Brazilian Championship. It might seem like something fleeting. It was not. The team from the state of Rio Grande do Sul beat the champion Atlético-MG on Thursday night (9), by 4-3, the result was not enough to prevent its third fall in history.
To escape, the Gauchos needed to count on defeats by Bahia and Juventude. Bahia lost to Fortaleza 2-1, but Juventude beat Corinthians 1-0 and remain in the elite.
The tricolors of Rio Grande do Sul, with 43 points and in 17th place, were relegated alongside Bahia, Sport and Chapecoense. They had already fallen in 1991 and 2004.
For the decline in 2021, it repeated the formula of other greats in the country who did not believe it was possible to fall. In statements by the board, the team was considered “too good” not to remain in the elite.
In the squad are expensive players like Rafinha (ex-Bayern Munich and Libertadores champion of 2019 with Flamengo), Geromel and Kannemann (the continental champion duo of 2017 with the club), Douglas Costa (ex-Bayern and national team Brazilian), Borja and Diego Souza.
This group of athletes, however, was not enough to prevent the team from having to compete in the second division in 2022.
After entering the sticking zone in the fourth round, he left the following week. It entered the eighth again and, since then, in just one round, the 22nd, it has not been among the four worst in the Brazilian Nationals.
The tricolor team ends the season under the command of the fourth coach. He started the year with Renato Gaúcho, then had Tiago Nunes and Luiz Felipe Scolari. Finally, the board bet on Vagner Mancini, who did a reasonable job at América-MG.
On the field, the main signing of the club, Douglas Costa, failed. And, on the eve of the decision against Atlético-MG, the midfielder asked to be excused to hold his wedding party in Rio de Janeiro.
The board did not comply with the wishes of the player, who removed from his social networks photos with the shirt of the club that revealed him. This Thursday, Douglas Costa was applauded by the crowd during the warm-up and gave back in the same way.
In the first few minutes, Grêmio seemed close to a miracle. It opened 3-0 against Atlético-MG reserves in the initial stage, with two goals by Diego Souza, at 6 and 20 minutes, and another by Campaz, at 11.
At the same time, Bahia opened the scoring against Fortaleza, a result that annihilated all the work of the Grêmio fans. The mood of wakes from the stands reached the lawns. Grêmio dropped in performance, and the Minas Gerais team took a draw with Dodô, at 26, and Vargas, at 35 of the first half.
On the way to the locker room, Rafinha and Thiago Santos exchanged pushes on the lawn. “The team was airborne, wanting to know what is happening off the field. Mancini has to give a call”, complained Diego Souza.
In the final stage, the team alvinegra started better, but Douglas Costa scored the fourth goal and, in celebration, pointed to his shirt and gestured with ‘bye’ towards the fans. At 41, Borja had the opportunity to score the fifth, but isolated the ball in a penalty kick.
The Grêmio fans, who had been silent when Juventude scored against Corinthians, booed Borja vehemently. Hyoran scored the third goal at Atletico at 45.
Although Grêmio was not the first Brazilian champion to be relegated, it was the first considered great in the South-Southeast to go through it. In 1991, as in 2021, it was believed that the team had enough quality not to fall. There was Assis, brother of Ronaldinho Gaucho, in midfield. The attacking duo was formed by Maurício and Nilson. It fell anyway.
The return the following year was much easier than it should be in 2022. The CBF changed the rule just before the start of the second division in 1992. Instead of two clubs, 12 would be promoted. Grêmio finished in ninth place and moved up.
After falling in 2004, the team lived the following year, in Serie B, one of the most dramatic and memorable moments in its history. In the last round of the final phase, in a match that became known as Batalha dos Aflitos, he returned to Serie A by defeating Náutico 1-0, in Recife, despite having only eight players on the field and the opponent having lost two penalties.
The fall of a major player in the country is no longer a novelty and has become a commonplace since 2003, when the system of running points was instituted.
Until 2002, there were 13 falls of Brazilian champions, who not always, due to changes in regulations, had to play in the second division in the following season. In the current format of dispute, there were 26 relegations of associations that raised the trophy in the country’s elite.
Among the national champions, only Flamengo, Santos and São Paulo have never fallen. The last time Serie A ended without a Brazilian national among the relegated was in the 2010 edition.
See below the relegations of Brazilian champion clubs
Athletico (1989, 1993 and 2011)
Atlético-MG (2005)
Bahia (1997, 2003, 2014 and 2021)
Botafogo (2002, 2014 and 2020)
Corinthians (2007)
Coritiba (1989, 1993, 2005, 2009, 2017 and 2020)
Cruise (2019)
Fluminense (1996 and 1997)
Guild (1991, 2004 and 2021)
Guarani (1989, 2004 and 2010)
International (2016)
Palm trees (2002 and 2012)
Sport (1989, 2001, 2009, 2012, 2018 and 2021)
Vasco (2008, 2013, 2015 and 2020)
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