Corinthians aim to avoid second longest winless Libertadores run | OneFootball

Corinthians take the field this Thursday (20) with a mission that goes beyond qualifying for the Libertadores quarterfinals. Against Rosario Central of Argentina, Timão are also trying to prevent their current winless streak in knockout matches in the competition from becoming the second longest in the club’s history.

The black-and-white team have not won a knockout-stage match in the Libertadores since 2018. That year, Corinthians beat Colo-Colo of Chile 2-1 in the second leg of the round of 16, but were ultimately eliminated because of the old away-goals rule.

Photo: Rodrigo Coca/Agência Corinthians

After that victory, the club played five knockout matches without winning again. The record is three draws and two defeats. The streak began in the round of 16 in 2022, when Corinthians drew 0-0 with Boca Juniors of Argentina in Buenos Aires.

Timão’s second-longest spell without a win in Libertadores knockout matches took place between 2000 and 2010. On that occasion, there were six consecutive matches without a victory, all of them defeats. The drought began in the 2000 semifinal, when Corinthians were eliminated by Palmeiras, and ended ten years later with a 2-1 win over Flamengo in the 2010 round of 16.

Just as happened in 2018, qualification did not come that year either. Corinthians were also knocked out of the competition on the away-goals rule.

The club’s longest winless streak in Libertadores knockout ties came between 2013 and 2018. Although it lasted fewer years, the period totaled seven matches without a win, with four draws and three defeats.

The run began with a 1-0 loss to Boca Juniors in the first leg of the 2013 round of 16. It ended only five years later, precisely with Corinthians’ 2-1 win over Colo-Colo in the second leg of the 2018 round of 16.

The current drought has one particularity compared with the previous ones: during this period, Corinthians managed to advance from a knockout tie. That happened in 2022, when Timão eliminated Boca Juniors in the round of 16. In that tie, both matches ended 0-0. The place in the next round was decided on penalties, with Corinthians coming out on top and advancing.

The same situation could happen again this Thursday. As the first match against Rosario Central ended goalless, another draw in regular time will send the decision to penalties. The spot will be decided at Neo Química Arena from 9:30 p.m. Corinthians need a win to advance directly to the quarterfinals.

Corinthians’ longest droughts in Libertadores knockout ties

7 matches (2013-2018)

Colo-Colo 1 x 0 Corinthians — 08/08/2018 Corinthians 2 x 2 Nacional-URU — 04/05/2016 Nacional-URU 0 x 0 Corinthians — 27/04/2016 Corinthians 0 x 1 Guaraní-PAR — 13/05/2015 Guaraní-PAR 2 x 0 Corinthians — 06/05/2015 Corinthians 1 x 1 Boca Juniors — 15/05/2013 Boca Juniors 1 x 0 Corinthians — 01/05/2013

6 matches (2000-2010)

Flamengo 1 x 0 Corinthians — 28/04/2010 Corinthians 1 x 3 River Plate — 04/05/2006 River Plate 3 x 2 Corinthians — 26/04/2006 Corinthians 1 x 2 River Plate — 14/05/2003 River Plate 2 x 1 Corinthians — 01/05/2003 Palmeiras 3 x 2 Corinthians — 06/06/2000

5 matches (2022-2026)

Rosario Central 0 x 0 Corinthians — 13/08/2026 Flamengo 1 x 0 Corinthians — 09/08/2022 Corinthians 0 x 2 Flamengo — 02/08/2022 Boca Juniors 0 x 0 Corinthians — 05/07/2022 Corinthians 0 x 0 Boca Juniors — 28/06/2022

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