Internacional sack manager Roger Machado

Internacional manager Roger Machado was sacked on Sunday after a 3-2 home defeat to local rivals Gremio in Brazil's Serie A.

The result marked the Porto Alegre outfit's sixth loss in its last seven games across all competitions.

"We'd like to inform you that we've made the decision to dismiss Roger Machado," club president Alessandro Barcellos told reporters after the match.

"It's always a difficult time; everyone who works at the club knows that changing a coach is rarely seen as a positive thing," he added.

Assistant coach Pablo Fernandez will fill the role on an interim basis while the club seeks a permanent replacement.

Machado led Internacional to 34 wins, 20 draws and 19 losses following his appointment in July last year.

Internacional is one of Brazil's most successful clubs, having won three Brazilian Serie A titles and two Copa Libertadores crowns.