O Grêmio 2007 foi vice-campeão da Copa Libertadores, derrotado pelo Boca Juniors por 3 a 0 e 2 a 0 na final, e conquistou o Campeonato Gaúcho sob o comando de Mano Menezes.
Grêmio 2007
The 2007 Grêmio was the team that, one year after returning to Serie A, reached the Copa Libertadores final under the command of Mano Menezes. It won the Campeonato Gaúcho and unveiled Lucas Leiva, elected the best player of the 2006 Brasileirão.
History
After the promotion achieved in the historic Battle of Aflitos, in 2005, Grêmio returned to the elite in 2006 and finished the Brasileirão in third place, securing a spot in the 2007 Copa Libertadores. Coach Mano Menezes assembled a competitive squad, with Tcheco as captain, Lucas Leiva in midfield, Diego Souza and Carlos Eduardo in the creation, and Tuta in attack. In the 2007 Copa Libertadores, Tricolor eliminated São Paulo in the round of 16, Defensor Sporting in the quarterfinals, on penalties, and Santos in the semifinal, advancing by the away goals rule. In the final, they faced Boca Juniors and were defeated 3-0 at La Bombonera and 2-0 at the Olympic Stadium, in a final marked by Riquelme's performance. In the same year, the club won the Campeonato Gaúcho and consolidated the generation that would continue the club's reconstruction. Lucas Leiva was sold to Liverpool in mid-2007, and Carlos Eduardo moved to Hoffenheim, confirming the role as a talent pipeline of that team.