Gabriel Paulista shines defensively in Corinthians draw with Vitória | OneFootball

Corinthians were held to a goalless draw with Vitória on the night of last Saturday (18) at Barradão, in a match valid for the 12th round of the Brazilian Championship. Despite the 0-0 scoreline, the highlight was the solid performance of center-back Gabriel Paulista.

The defender posted impressive numbers throughout the game: he completed 33 of the 39 passes he attempted (85% accuracy), won four aerial duels, made ten clearances, and recorded 15 defensive actions, according to SofaScore. His performance was key to containing the opposing attack, which managed just one shot on target against Hugo Souza’s goal.

Photo: Rodrigo Coca/Ag. Corinthians

The match also marked a special reunion for Gabriel Paulista, who began his professional career at Vitória. Developed by the Bahia club, he was promoted to the first team in 2009 and quickly established himself as a promising talent. In total, he made 142 appearances before being transferred to Villarreal, Spain, in 2013.

In addition to the individual consistency, Corinthians reached their fourth consecutive match without conceding a goal, something that had not happened since 2025. Under Fernando Diniz, the team has recorded draws against Palmeiras and Vitória in the Brasileirão, as well as 2-0 wins over Platense and Santa Fe in the Libertadores.

On the other hand, the attacking department remains a problem. Timão did not even manage a shot on target against Lucas Arcanjo during the match and have now gone nine straight games without a win in the national competition. Their last positive result came on February 19, when they beat Athletico-PR 1-0 away from home.

With the draw and Cruzeiro’s win over Grêmio, Corinthians ended up losing one place in the standings and dropped into the relegation zone, now sitting in 17th place. Their next match will be this Tuesday against Barra in the Copa do Brasil. After that, the team returns to Brasileirão action against Vasco at Neo Química Arena.

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