Breno Bidon strikes late, Corinthians hold São Paulo at home

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Central do Timão

·18 January 2026

Breno Bidon strikes late, Corinthians hold São Paulo at home

By Fabio Luigi / Central do Timão Editorial Team

On the afternoon of this Sunday (18), Corinthians hosted São Paulo at the Neo Química Arena, for the third round of the initial phase of the Campeonato Paulista, and drew 1-1. With this result, Timão reaches four points and temporarily climbs to seventh place among the 16 clubs, within the qualification zone for the knockout stage – restricted to the top eight. The Corinthians goal was scored by midfielder Breno Bidon.

Dorival Júnior's coaching staff could not count on three players for the match: midfielder José Martínez (still in Venezuela awaiting the re-issuance of his passport to return to Brazil), midfielder Rodrigo Garro (recovering from surgery on his left wrist), and forward Memphis Depay (working on physical conditioning). On the other hand, midfielder Raniele made his season debut after being rested for the first two rounds.

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Photo: Vinicios Cotrim/Central do Timão

Thus, Dorival Júnior chose to start the match with: Hugo Souza; Matheuzinho, André Ramalho, Gustavo Henrique, and Matheus Bidu; Raniele (Vitinho), André Carrillo (Matheus Pereira), André (Pedro Raul), and Breno Bidon; Kayke (Dieguinho), and Yuri Alberto.

The bench options were: Felipe Longo, Gabriel Paulista, João Vitor ‘Jacaré’, Hugo Farias, Luiz Gustavo Bahia, Charles, João Pedro Thoca, Matheus Pereira, Gui Negão, Pedro Raul, Vitinho, and Dieguinho.

São Paulo lineup

Coach Hernán Crespo named the starting team as: Rafael; Maik, Arboleda, Alan Franco, and Wendell; Bobadilla, Danielzinho, Marcos Antônio, and Lucas Moura; Tapia and Luciano.

Refereeing

The referee was João Vitor Gobi, assisted by Daniel Luis Marques and Leandro Matos Feitosa. The fourth official and VAR were, respectively, Gabriel Henrique Meira Bispo and Adriano de Assis Miranda.

Next fixture

After facing São Paulo at home this Sunday, Corinthians remains focused on the continuation of the Campeonato Paulista. Next Thursday (22), at 7:30 PM (Brasília time), Alvinegro visits Santos at Vila Belmiro, for the fourth round of the state championship's first phase.

First half

The opening minutes of the match between Corinthians and São Paulo saw Alvinegro pushing forward. Right in the first minute, after a passing exchange between André Carrillo and Matheuzinho, striker Yuri Alberto was played in at the byline and the number 9 crossed into the box. The São Paulo defense cleared. On the rebound, at the edge of the area, Wendell fouled Breno Bidon.

On the free kick, left-back Matheus Bidu shot over the wall and Rafael palmed it away for a corner! At four minutes, Corinthians built a play from their defensive half and Matheus Bidu played Breno Bidon through the middle, number 7 controlled but his shot was blocked. From the corner, São Paulo's defenders cleared.

After seven minutes, Corinthians had total control of the match, pushing São Paulo into their defensive half, who could barely keep the ball or launch any counterattacks. Four minutes later, Matheus Bidu and André built a good play down the left. Number 49 tried to find a pass inside to Bidon, but Arboleda cut it out for a throw-in.

In the next move, Matheus Bidu received the ball on the left and crossed, with a deflection, towards Yuri Alberto, who headed wide with the goal open! By the 16th minute, Matheus Bidu was the main outlet for Corinthians down the left, constantly creating danger with plays on that side, especially with switches of play to his area.

At 21 minutes, the club from Parque São Jorge started a new play from the back, with André Ramalho finding Raniele, who passed to André Carrillo. The Peruvian played it to Kayke, who got past two São Paulo markers and the ball fell to André, who shot with a deflection for a corner. On the corner, André Ramalho headed wide.

At 25, São Paulo's first chance. Danielzinho received inside and played Tapia through. The Chilean shot off target, wide. Halfway through the first half, the only Corinthians player booked was midfielder André, for a foul on Lucas Moura in the attacking midfield early in the game.

Three minutes later, Corinthians launched a counterattack with André receiving in midfield and playing Yuri Alberto through. Alone, the number 9 advanced down the left and, with his left foot, shot across goal for Rafael to save! On the rebound, Yuri Alberto was booked after a clash with Alan Franco inside the opponent's area.

At 35 minutes, Tapia received at the byline on the right, and Gustavo Henrique put it out for a corner. From the resulting play, the ball bounced around in the Corinthians area, but Matheuzinho and André Ramalho cleared the danger. Three minutes later, São Paulo scored the first goal: Danielzinho received on the left, went to the byline, and crossed for Tapia, who headed in to open the scoring. Corinthians 0 x 1 São Paulo.

Shortly after, Corinthians made a mistake playing out from the back, and São Paulo wasted the chance by shooting wide. At 41 minutes, Kayke cut inside to the left and shot hard, forcing a good save from Rafael, who palmed it away. In the next move, André shot poorly, the ball fell to Matheuzinho, who was one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but number 2 shot wide.

Three minutes later, São Paulo took a free kick on the left with Wendell and Hugo Souza palmed away after Luciano's header in the box! At 45 minutes, the rival made a mistake playing out and Raniele played Yuri Alberto through, who shot over with his left foot. The referee added five minutes when the clock hit 45.

At 50 minutes, end of the first half. Corinthians were superior overall throughout the 45 minutes, but failed to convert their high volume of chances into goals and saw the rival score with one of their only clear chances in the first half. Halftime score: Corinthians 0 x 1 São Paulo.

Second half

To start the second half, coach Dorival Júnior made no changes. The opening minutes saw Corinthians take the initiative, as they were behind on the scoreboard, but still without effectiveness. At six minutes, Wendell picked up the rebound from a corner and toe-poked it into Hugo Souza's hands.

At 10 minutes into the second half, Corinthians still hadn't threatened São Paulo's goal, despite having more possession. At 11, after a corner, Gustavo Henrique headed towards the middle of the area, the ball deflected off right-back Maik's shoulder, and Rafael saved on the line.

At 17 minutes, Carrillo switched play to Matheus Bidu, who found Kayke, who returned it to number 21. He crossed at mid-height into the area and Arboleda cleared. At 20 minutes into the second half, the first two changes for Corinthians: midfielder Matheus Pereira and midfielder Dieguinho came on for André Carrillo and Kayke.

Right after, midfielder Raniele left the pitch for midfielder Vitinho. With half the second half gone, both teams created few chances, making the match slow and with little excitement. Up to that point, one shot each side in the final period. At 31 minutes, defender Gustavo Henrique controlled the ball and tried a powerful shot from distance, but Rafael caught it comfortably.

At 33 minutes, Matheus Bidu was fouled on the left wing. On the free kick, Vitinho curled it in and São Paulo's defense cleared. Two minutes later, midfielder André left the pitch for striker Pedro Raul. With the changes, Alvinegro switched to a 4-2-4 formation, with Breno Bidon and Matheus Pereira in midfield, Dieguinho and Vitinho on the wings, and Pedro Raul and Yuri Alberto up front.

At 39, left-back Matheus Bidu crossed into the area and Gustavo Henrique headed wide! Four minutes later, midfielder Vitinho played Breno Bidon in at the byline, but the ball went out for a corner. At 44 minutes, Corinthians pushed forward. Matheus Pereira found Breno Bidon, who backheeled to Pedro Raul. Number 7 picked up the rebound in the area and blasted it in to tie the match!

When the clock hit 45 minutes, the referee signaled seven minutes of stoppage time. After the equalizer, Corinthians threw everything forward and pressed São Paulo's defensive line, but couldn't turn their chances into a goal. At 52 minutes, end of the match: Corinthians 1 x 1 São Paulo.

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