Injury-hit Corinthians on eight-game winless run before Libertadores | OneFootball

Corinthians are eight matches without a win, the slump arriving on the eve of their Conmebol Libertadores debut and clouding the mood at Parque São Jorge.

Globo.com reports that the team last won on 19 February, beating Athletico-PR at Arena da Baixada in round two of the Campeonato Brasileiro. Since then there have been three defeats, five draws and a Paulista semi-final exit.

Injuries and absences have stripped Dorival Júnior of key options, often preventing a full-strength XI. Of the eight winless games, Yuri Alberto missed six while treating a muscle problem.

Memphis Depay is in Spain treating a left-knee issue with no return date. Also absent in at least one game were Hugo Souza, André Carrillo, Gui Negão, Hugo, Raniele, Kaio César and Matheus Pereira.

The attack has yielded only five goals in those eight games. Creation is down too, with one shot on target against Coritiba and four against Fluminense, who had 10.

On the last day of February, Corinthians were knocked out by Novorizontino in the Paulistão semi-finals, a blow to a squad defending the state crown.

New signings have scarcely featured. Jesse Lingard arrived in early March and only debuted on Wednesday after an improvised pre-season at CT Joaquim Grava. Kaio César played once before treating inflammation, while Zakaria Labyad is still adapting.

There were two extended training windows, 11 days between the Novorizontino and Coritiba defeats, then nine straight during the late March FIFA dates. Despite that time to work, performances dipped further on return.

Source: Globo.com