A look back at the last two meetings between Corinthians and Athletico-PR | OneFootball

Corinthians and Athletico-PR face each other again this Thursday (30), at 7:30 p.m. (Brasília time), at Neo Química Arena, for the 21st round of the Brazilian Championship. Ahead of the teams’ new meeting, recent history brings back good memories for the black-and-white fans.

Timão won the last two meetings against the club from Paraná without conceding a goal. The most recent clash took place in February this year, in the Brasileirão, while the previous one was played in September 2025 and secured Corinthians’ qualification for the Copa do Brasil semifinals.

Photo: Rodrigo Coca / Agência Corinthians

In addition to the positive results, the two matches had key figures in common. Rodrigo Garro scored in both games, and Hugo Souza was decisive in stopping an Athletico-PR comeback.

Athletico-PR 0 x 1 Corinthians, in the 2026 Brasileirão

The most recent meeting took place on February 19, 2026, at Estádio Presidente Mário Celso Petraglia, in Curitiba. Even under pressure for much of the match, Corinthians won 1-0 thanks to a brilliant goal by Rodrigo Garro.

Dorival Júnior started the match with Hugo Souza; Matheuzinho, Gabriel Paulista, Gustavo Henrique and Matheus Bidu; Charles, Raniele, Matheus Pereira and Rodrigo Garro; Vitinho and Memphis Depay.

Athletico-PR, coached by Odair Hellmann, lined up with Santos; Benavídez, Terán, Arthur Dias and Esquivel; Luiz Gustavo, Portilla and Zapelli; Mendoza, Julimar and Viveros.

The match began at a lively pace, with Athletico-PR creating the first chances. Viveros repeatedly found space behind the Corinthians defense and threatened with two shots. On the first, he overpowered Gabriel Paulista and fired wide. Shortly after, he received the ball through the middle, chipped Hugo Souza, and again missed the target. In the 12th minute, Viveros was brought down inside the box by Matheus Bidu, and the referee awarded a penalty to the home side. Julimar took the spot kick, but dragged it too far wide, sending it past Hugo Souza’s left post.

Corinthians took advantage of the mistake to open the scoring shortly after. Matheuzinho floated the ball into the box, Memphis was beaten in the aerial duel, and the loose ball fell to Rodrigo Garro. Positioned at the edge of the area, the Argentine controlled it and struck with his left foot, using the outside of his boot, into Santos’ top corner. After the goal, Athletico-PR increased the pressure. Viveros drove down the left, left Gabriel Paulista behind, and forced Hugo Souza to tip the ball out for a corner.

The biggest scare for Corinthians came in the 27th minute. After an aerial play, Terán appeared free in the six-yard box and had his effort blocked by the Corinthians goalkeeper. On the rebound, Viveros found himself in front of an open goal, but Raniele threw himself into a sliding challenge and prevented the equalizer.

Before halftime, Julimar also got on the end of a cross at the far post and headed wide. Memphis also tried a long-range free kick, but hit the wall. That way, Corinthians went into the locker room with the lead.

Pressure from the Paraná side and a decisive performance by Hugo Souza

The second half began with Athletico-PR once again on the attack. Viveros received the ball inside the box but slipped before he could shoot. Then Esquivel pushed forward through the middle and tried a shot that took a deflection before going out. Mendoza also created one of the main chances of the second half. The forward received the ball on the left and hit a low shot toward Hugo Souza’s corner, but the goalkeeper stretched out to make the save.

Shortly after, Esquivel won an aerial duel, entered the box and crossed for Viveros. Hugo Souza anticipated the play and got a touch on the ball, preventing the Colombian from finishing. On the rebound, Chiqueti cleared the danger. With the opponent pressing, Dorival Júnior made three changes. Rodrigo Garro, Charles and Vitinho left the field for Gui Negão, André Luiz and Allan. Later, André Ramalho replaced Matheus Pereira, and André Carrillo came on for Memphis Depay.

Corinthians struggled to keep possession and began prioritizing protecting their lead. Bruninho still tried a shot from outside the box, but Hugo Souza saved it without difficulty. Zapelli also received the ball in a good position after a move at the edge of the area, but shot wide. The referee initially gave nine minutes of stoppage time. Later, four more were added, prompting complaints from the Corinthians bench. Assistant coach Lucas Silvestre was eventually sent off. Even with Athletico-PR’s late pressure, Corinthians held on and left Curitiba with a 1-0 win.

Santos, Viveros and João Cruz received yellow cards for Athletico-PR. For Corinthians, Hugo Souza, Matheuzinho, Gabriel Paulista and Matheus Bidu were booked. Lucas Silvestre, the black-and-white team’s assistant coach, received a red card.

Corinthians 2 x 0 Athletico-PR, in the 2025 Copa do Brasil

Before the Brasileirão meeting, Corinthians and Athletico-PR had faced each other on September 10, 2025, at Neo Química Arena. That night, Timão won 2-0 and confirmed their place in the Copa do Brasil semifinals with a 3-0 aggregate score. Dorival Júnior had a last-minute absence. André Ramalho was ruled out due to a viral illness, and João Pedro Tchoca was chosen to make up the defensive line.

Corinthians started the game with Hugo Souza; Matheuzinho, João Pedro Tchoca, Gustavo Henrique, Fabrizio Angileri and Matheus Bidu; Maycon, Breno Bidon and Rodrigo Garro; Memphis Depay and Gui Negão.

Athletico-PR, then coached by Fábio Moreno, took the field with Santos; Benavídez, Carlos Terán, Aguirre, Esquivel and Léo Dérik; Felipinho, Élan Ricardo and Dudu Kogitzki; Viveros and Julimar.

With the advantage built in the first leg, Corinthians began the match controlling possession and using the flanks. Matheuzinho and Matheus Bidu played as wing-backs, while Angileri formed the back three alongside João Pedro Tchoca and Gustavo Henrique. Breno Bidon tried a cross that nearly surprised Santos. Then Matheus Bidu sent the ball into the box, and Rodrigo Garro attempted an overhead kick, but sent it over the bar.

Athletico-PR responded in the 13th minute. Julimar won his duel against Angileri and crossed low, but the ball traveled across the box without any teammate able to finish. The first real scare for Corinthians came when Viveros stole the ball from Maycon in the attacking half, advanced to the edge of the area, and fired low past Hugo Souza. After a VAR review, however, the goal was disallowed for a foul by the forward on Maycon at the start of the play.

Corinthians’ first shot on target came in the 31st minute. Gui Negão found Garro, who produced a backheel pass for Memphis. The Dutchman struck first time, but Santos made the save. Despite controlling territory, Corinthians found it difficult to break into the box. Garro tried from distance, while Breno Bidon’s effort took a deflection. From the corner kick, João Pedro Tchoca headed wide.

The persistence paid off before halftime. Gui Negão won the ball back in the attacking half, made an individual move and found Garro free. The Argentine dribbled past Santos and finished with his right foot to open the scoring at Neo Química Arena. Before the break, Memphis Depay left the field after feeling heaviness in his leg. Vitinho came on in his place.

Gui Negão doubles the lead and Hugo Souza saves a penalty

In the second half, Corinthians showed new movement patterns, with Matheus Bidu playing more centrally and leaving the wing for Angileri and Vitinho. After an opening spell marked by fouls and cards, Timão doubled the lead in the 17th minute. Gui Negão received the ball from Vitinho, lost his balance, but Garro kept fighting for possession. The loose ball fell back to the center-forward, who calmly slotted it past Santos to score the second goal.

Athletico-PR looked for an immediate response. Zapelli received a cutback and struck with power, but sent it over the goal. The team from Paraná had a chance to pull one back in the 24th minute, when Matheuzinho handled the ball inside the box. After a long review, the penalty was confirmed. Benavídez took the kick, but Hugo Souza guessed the right corner and kept the ball out.

Vitinho also surged down the left and found Matheus Bidu free inside the box, but the shot was blocked. Shortly afterward, Dorival brought back Yuri Alberto, who had recovered from surgery to correct an inguinal hernia, in place of Gui Negão. Athletico-PR threatened again after an Angileri mistake in the box, but Hugo Souza made another save. Ryan and Charles also came on in the second half, replacing Garro and Breno Bidon.

Luiz Fernando even found the net for the visitors late on, but the goal was ruled out for offside. At the other end, Yuri Alberto looked for a third goal, but was stopped by the opposing defense. With the 2-0 victory, Corinthians secured qualification for the Copa do Brasil semifinal and completed the tie with a three-goal aggregate advantage.

Matheuzinho, Angileri, Gui Negão and Vitinho received yellow cards for Corinthians. Aguirre, Kevin Viveros and Patrick were booked for Athletico-PR.

Recurring key figures in both clashes

The two most recent matches between Corinthians and Athletico-PR had elements in common. Rodrigo Garro scored in both games, directly contributing to the 2-0 victory in the Copa do Brasil and the 1-0 win in the Brasileirão.

Hugo Souza also played an important role in both results. In September 2025, he saved the penalty taken by Benavídez and kept Timão from conceding. In the match played in February 2026, he made decisive interventions during Athletico-PR’s pressure at Arena da Baixada.

Now, in front of their fans, Corinthians will try to repeat their recent performances, claim a third straight win over the team from Paraná, and preserve their unbeaten record against the opponent at Neo Química Arena.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.