PalpiGol News · BRAZIL · COPA DO BRASIL
Copa do Brasil final set: Palmeiras and Grêmio meet Dec 6 in Brasília
Palmeiras and Grêmio will meet in the Copa do Brasil final on Sunday, Dec 6, at the Mané Garrincha stadium in Brasília, the first final in the competition's history decided in a single match. The Copa do Brasil is Brazil's national knockout cup, and the winner earns a direct place in the 2027 Copa Libertadores. The CBF, Brazil's soccer confederation, has not announced the kickoff time or ticket sales.
In 30 seconds: Palmeiras vs Grêmio, Sunday, Dec 6, at the Mané Garrincha in Brasília; kickoff time not yet announced · Palmeiras beat Vasco 5-4 on penalties after losing the second leg 2-1; Grêmio beat Atlético-MG 3-1 on aggregate · Palmeiras play the Libertadores final against Estudiantes on Nov 28, eight days earlier · Grêmio are 18th in the league and keep their Libertadores place only if they stay in the top flight · The two clubs met in the 2020 final, won by Palmeiras 3-0 on aggregate
Two finalists, two different seasons
By the numbers: 10 · Copa do Brasil finals for Grêmio
By the numbers: 5 · Copa do Brasil titles for Grêmio, the last in 2016
By the numbers: 4 · titles for Palmeiras, the last in 2020
Palmeiras lost the second leg 2-1 at Vasco on Nov 8, but their 1-0 win in the first leg had left the tie level at 2-2, and they went through 5-4 on penalties with goalkeeper Carlos Miguel among the heroes. They are second in the Brasileirão, Brazil's top-flight league, with 73 points, three behind Flamengo, and still have the Libertadores final against Estudiantes on Nov 28 in Montevideo, at 3pm ET.
If Palmeiras win the Libertadores, they are due in Qatar for the FIFA Intercontinental Cup: the Derby of the Americas against Toluca is scheduled for Dec 9, three days after the Brasília final, and the winner would face Mamelodi Sundowns on Dec 12, with the final against Paris Saint-Germain on Dec 16. As of Nov 10, Brazilian outlets reported that the Dec 6 date for the cup final had not changed.
Grêmio, coached by Renato Gaúcho, beat Atlético-MG 2-0 at home and drew 1-1 in Belo Horizonte on Nov 7 to win the semifinal 3-1 on aggregate. In the league, though, they are 18th with 37 points, inside the relegation zone and one point behind Internacional and Vitória, who sit just above the drop. Four games remain: Bahia at home on Nov 18, then Santos and Corinthians away, and Mirassol at home on Dec 2. The last four teams go down to the second division.
Highlight: Palmeiras play for two titles in eight days; Grêmio must first stay in the top flight to keep what the final has already earned them.
Why Grêmio's spot is not safe
Reaching the final already earned Grêmio a place in the 2027 Libertadores group stage, whoever wins on Dec 6: if Palmeiras win the cup, the champion's direct place goes to the runner-up, because Palmeiras already qualify through the league. But under the CBF's rules, only clubs in the 2027 top division can use these places, and Conmebol, South America's governing body, accepts only first-division clubs. If Grêmio finish in the bottom four, they lose the spot even with the trophy.
A rematch of 2020
The two clubs also met in the 2020 final, played over two legs: Palmeiras won 1-0 in Porto Alegre and 2-0 in São Paulo. A win in Brasília would give Palmeiras a fifth title and level them with Grêmio; Cruzeiro lead the competition's history with six.
Around Europe
Europe's domestic leagues are paused for the international break until Nov 21, when Real Madrid host Celta Vigo at 3pm ET. Barcelona lead LaLiga with 33 points, three ahead of Real Madrid, and Arsenal lead the Premier League with 27, five clear of Brighton, based on the tables after last weekend's games. The Champions League returns on Nov 24 and 25.
Coming up
Fixture: Wed (Nov 18), 6:30pm · Cruzeiro vs Palmeiras · Brasileirão · matchday 35 · Mineirão
Fixture: Wed (Nov 18), 7:30pm · Grêmio vs Bahia · Brasileirão · matchday 35
Fixture: Sat (Nov 21), 2:30pm · Palmeiras vs Flamengo · Brasileirão · matchday 36
Fixture: Sat (Nov 21), 3pm · Real Madrid vs Celta Vigo · LaLiga · matchday 13
Fixture: Sat (Nov 21) · Atlético-MG vs Boca Juniors · Copa Sudamericana final · Barranquilla
Fixture: Sat (Nov 28), 3pm · Palmeiras vs Estudiantes · Copa Libertadores final · Montevideo
Fixture: Sun (Dec 6) · Palmeiras vs Grêmio · Copa do Brasil final · Brasília
All times ET. Who do you think lifts the first single-match Copa do Brasil? Make your prediction.
Sources: CBF (cbf.com.br); Conmebol (conmebol.com); FIFA (fifa.com), as reported by A Tarde and BNews; O Tempo; Itatiaia; Lance!; Band; SBT News; O Povo; Diário do Grande ABC; Portal do Gremista, citing GZH; Portal do Palestra; Revista Oeste; LaLiga (laliga.com); Premier League (premierleague.com)