Mirassol and Grêmio played out a tense 1-1 draw in the Brazilian Cup on the night of August 3, 2026, leaving the two-legged tie finely balanced ahead of the return fixture in Porto Alegre. The result at the Estádio José Maria de Campos Maia gives Grêmio a valuable away goal, while Mirassol will take confidence from a spirited performance against one of Brazil’s most decorated clubs.

A competitive cup night in São Paulo

The Copa do Brasil clash lived up to its knockout-stage billing, with both sides showing attacking intent from the opening whistle. Mirassol, the plucky São Paulo state club looking to make history in the national cup, pressed high and unsettled Grêmio’s build-up play early on. The home side’s reward came midway through the first half when a swift counter-attack ended with a composed finish past Grêmio’s goalkeeper, sending the local fans into raptures.

Grêmio, however, have built their reputation on resilience in cup competitions. The Porto Alegre giants grew into the game after conceding, and their equaliser arrived before the break. A well-worked move down the right flank exposed Mirassol’s back line, and the visitors’ striker converted from close range to restore parity and secure a crucial away goal.

Second-half chess match

The second half was a more cautious affair, with Mirassol mindful of not conceding a second away goal and Grêmio happy to control possession and wait for openings. The hosts carved out the clearer chances, hitting the woodwork once and forcing a sharp save from the Grêmio goalkeeper in the final quarter-hour, but a winning goal proved elusive.

Despite the draw, Mirassol will believe they can progress. A victory in Porto Alegre — even a scoring draw — would be enough to advance, and their performance suggested they are capable of causing an upset. For Grêmio, the away goal gives them the edge, but they will need to be far more clinical in the second leg to avoid a shock elimination.

What the result means for the tie

• Grêmio’s away goal means a 0-0 draw in the return leg would be enough for them to advance.
• Mirassol must win in Porto Alegre, or hold Grêmio to a draw with a higher score than 1-1 to force the tie to penalties or win on away goals.
• The winner of the tie will advance to the next round of the Brazilian Cup, keeping alive the dream of a national title.

With everything to play for, the second leg promises to be an absorbing contest. Mirassol have already shown they can live with one of Brazil’s biggest clubs, and Grêmio know they cannot afford to underestimate their determined hosts-turned-visitors. The Copa do Brasil rarely fails to deliver drama, and this tie is shaping up to be no exception.