Gremio play host to Uruguayans Defensor in this game as they look to end the group stages as the top team, they would need to claim all three points here to achieve that.
Gremio have shown that they are worthy defending champions and they could go on and retain the trophy should they maintain their momentum. This season’s success has been achieved thanks in part to the fact that they retained all of the players who helped them win the competition last season. They remain unbeaten this season with eleven points from five games.
They come into this game on the back of six matches unbeaten and they have been unplayable at home in this competition at times from last season. With 8 wins from their last 9 home games, their visitors would need to be more than their best to stop them from winning here again.
Defensor come into this game already eliminated as they are currently third in the group, so they only have their pride to play for in this one. With the bottom of the table side, Monagas expected to lose their game, they would still compete in the Sudamericana no matter the outcome here.
The 1-1 draw between the sides earlier on in the group was their first meeting since a clash in 2007 Libertadores, which Defensor won on penalties after a 2-2 aggregate draw.
