Luis Suarez on Thursday showed glimpses of his prime. The striker who is rumoured to be on the shortlist of Messi’s Inter Miami next season scored a hattrick in 19 minutes to give Gremio a dramatic 4-3 win over Botafogo. Gremio joined Botafogo at the top of the table with 59 points in the Brazilian league.
The visitors found themselves in a spot of bother in the top-of-the-table clash. Gremio were 3-1 down at the start of the second half after Marlon Freitas’s effort extended Botafogo’s lead. Earlier, goals from former Chelsea striker Diego Costa and Junior Santos had given the hosts the lead.
Botafogo had been looking to put an end to their three-game losing streak that had seen them drop out of the top spot in the league.
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Suarez, however, had other plans. He scored his first goal within four minutes of Botafogo’s third goal in the 50th minute. It was an opportunistic left-foot finish after getting a scuffed ball.
Luis Suarez then scored his second goal merely three minutes later, equalising the match and turning the tide in favour of the visitors. The ex-Barcelona and Liverpool striker then scored the winner when he ran onto a deep ball and curled it into the far corner.
Gremio are now second on the table with 59 points, level on points Brazilian Serie A sides Botafogo and Palmeira. Bragantino, fourth on the Serie A table, is just a point behind top three.
Luis Suarez has been in scintillating form since joining Gremio. Since donning the club colours in January, Suarez has scored 14 goals in 28 league games and provided 10 assists.
ESPN has reported that MLS club Inter Miami has already sealed a deal for the forward, who will join the club on a 1-year contract with a second-year option.
Renato Gaucho, the manager of Gremio, announced in October that the striker will leave the club at the end of the current Serie A campaign.