Corinthians dominate Santos but concede late equaliser in Paulistão

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Central do Timão

·23 January 2026

Corinthians dominate Santos but concede late equaliser in Paulistão

By Fabio Luigi / Central do Timão Editorial Team

On the night of Thursday (22), Corinthians faced Santos at Vila Belmiro, for the fourth round of the first phase of the Campeonato Paulista, and drew with a score of 1 x 1. The goal for the Alvinegro was scored by striker Yuri Alberto, midway through the first half. With this result, the Corinthians team remains in eighth place on the overall table with five points (one win, two draws, and one loss – five goals scored and five conceded).

Dorival Júnior's coaching staff could not count on the following players for the match: defender Cacá (left internal oblique muscle strain), midfielder José Martínez (still in Venezuela awaiting the remission of his passport), and striker Memphis Depay (physical conditioning).

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Photo: Fernando Bueno/Corinthians

Given this, Corinthians started the match with: Hugo Souza; Matheuzinho, Gustavo Henrique, André Ramalho, Matheus Bidu; Raniele (Gabriel Paulista), André Luiz, Matheus Pereira (Charles), André Carrillo (Rodrigo Garro) and Breno Bidon; and Yuri Alberto (Vitinho). The bench options were: Felipe Longo, Hugo Farias, João Vitor ‘Jacaré’, João Pedro Tchoca, Gabriel Paulista, Charles, Dieguinho, Rodrigo Garro, Kayke, Gui Negão, Vitinho, and Pedro Raul.

Santos Lineup

Coach Juan Pablo Vojvoda chose the following starting XI: Gabriel Brazão; Igor Vinicius, Adonis Frías, Zé Ivaldo, and Vinicius Lira; Willian Arão, João Schmidt, and Rollheiser; Barreal, Thaciano, and Gabigol.

The substitutes were: Diógenes, Mayke, Alexi Duarte, Luan Peres, Escobar, Zé Rafael, Gabriel Menino, Miguelito, Robinho Jr, Matheus Xavier, Lautaro Díaz, and Pedro Assis.

Refereeing

The referee was Lucas Canetto Bellote (SP), assisted by Evandro de Melo Lima (SP) and Anderson Jose de Moraes Coelho (SP). The fourth official and VAR were, respectively, Murilo Tarrega Victor (SP) and Thiago Duarte Peixoto (SP).

Next Match

After facing Santos away, Corinthians remains focused on the Campeonato Paulista. Next Sunday (25), at 8:30 pm (Brasília time), the Alvinegro will visit Velo Clube in Rio Claro, for the fifth round of the first phase of the Paulistão.

First Half

The opening minutes of the match between Santos and Corinthians saw both teams exchanging passes in the defensive field, without much objectivity. The Alvinegro started the game with Raniele initiating play on the left side along with defenders Gustavo Henrique and André Ramalho, freeing up full-backs Matheuzinho and Matheus Bidu. André Carrillo, Matheus Pereira, André Luiz, and Breno Bidon filled the midfield.

After five minutes, the Alvinegro derby was being played cautiously, with neither side making incisive plays. At six minutes, Vinicius Lira received on the left and crossed for striker Thaciano to head wide. Two minutes later, Corinthians set up a counterattack. Yuri Alberto received on the right, dribbled past five players, and was brought down by defender Zé Ivaldo, and a penalty was awarded!

On the penalty, Corinthians' number 9 sent Brazão the wrong way but shot wide! Soon after, Yuri received on the right wing, surged forward, and shot hard, forcing Brazão to make a save. On the rebound, Bidu struck powerfully and again Brazão saved. In the sequence, the ball fell to the striker, who opened the scoring for Timão by shooting into the corner of the Santos goalkeeper. Score: Santos 0 x 1 Corinthians!

At 19 minutes, Matheuzinho took a corner from the right and defender Gustavo Henrique headed wide! Halfway through the first half, especially after taking the lead, Corinthians showed considerable superiority over the Baixada Santista team. Nine minutes later, Barreal reached the byline and Rollheiser headed into the hands of Hugo Souza.

Next, Yuri Alberto received a through ball, reached the byline, and shot into the side netting! At 33 minutes, even playing away, Corinthians had seven players pressing high in Santos' defensive half, preventing them from playing out efficiently and breaking the Alvinegro's defensive lines.

At 36 minutes, midfielder Breno Bidon found Matheus Bidu on the left wing. Number 21 crossed low, with a deflection, and almost fooled Gabriel Brazão. Shortly before, Santos began to circle the Corinthians penalty area with successive crosses, but without any effect. At 42 minutes, midfielder André Luiz received up front, surged toward goal, and was fouled near the box.

On the free kick, Matheuzinho hit the wall. The referee ordered a retake after the Santos wall moved, and number 2 sent the shot over the bar. When the clock hit 45 minutes, three minutes were added. At 48, end of the first half: Santos 0 x 1. The first half was completely dominated by Corinthians, who did not allow Santos to threaten and pinned the rival in their defensive half.

Second Half

To start the second half, coach Dorival Júnior made no changes to the team. The opening minutes of the second half saw the home team taking the initiative and pushing forward, as they needed a result. The Vila Belmiro side began to press Corinthians' buildup with more emphasis.

After five minutes, midfielder Matheus Pereira quickly took a free kick won by Matheus Bidu and found Matheuzinho on the right wing. Number 2 reached the byline and crossed, but William Arão cleared the danger. At 11 minutes into the second half, Corinthians were controlling the match well, although they had not yet shot on Gabriel Brazão's goal. The rival, despite needing a better result, had not yet troubled Hugo Souza.

At 15 minutes, Igor Vinicius received from Rollheiser on the right and crossed hard toward Gabriel Barbosa, but the ball went out on the other side of the field. Soon after, the Santos attack was flagged offside. Two minutes later, the first change for the Alvinegro: midfielder André Carrillo left the field for midfielder Rodrigo Garro.

At 18 minutes, Santos made a mistake in the buildup and midfielder André Luiz stole the ball, playing in striker Yuri Alberto. Number 9 surged toward the box and was brought down by Adonis Frias near the area, earning a yellow card. On the free kick, Rodrigo Garro hit the wall. Soon after, André received from Matheus Bidu at the edge of the area and sent the shot over the bar.

At 25 minutes, Matheuzinho miscontrolled in attack and Santos set up a counterattack. Barreal received on the left wing, outran André Ramalho, and crossed low toward Gabigol, but Gustavo Henrique, crucially, cleared the danger for a throw-in! Three minutes later, Santos took a corner with Gabriel Menino, and the ball ended up on the opposite side for Gabigol, who headed it into Yuri Alberto, resulting in another corner. On the next corner, the Corinthians defense cleared for a throw-in with Yuri Alberto.

In the next play, the same move, and Gabriel Barbosa shot across goal and wide. At 31 minutes of the second half, the second change for Corinthians: midfielder Matheus Pereira left the field for defensive midfielder Charles. At 35 minutes into the second half, Corinthians managed the result and left possession with Santos to, eventually, look for a deep counterattack with Yuri Alberto.

At 39 minutes, two more changes for Corinthians: midfielder Raniele and striker Yuri Alberto left the field for defender Gabriel Paulista and midfielder Vitinho. Thus, the Alvinegro started playing with a three-man defense, freeing up the full-backs as wing-backs. At 42 minutes, Matheus Bidu received on the left wing, surged forward freely, and shot hard for Gabriel Brazão to palm away for a corner!

When the clock hit 45 minutes, the referee added eight minutes. At 46 minutes, Vitinho lost the ball and Robinho Jr played in Lautaro Díaz, who lost the ball in a challenge with Gustavo Henrique, and on the rebound, Gabriel Barbosa shot over the goal. In the play, the referee called a foul by Gustavo Henrique on Lautaro Díaz at the edge of the area. On the free kick, Gabriel Barbosa shot hard down the middle and equalized the match. Score: 1 x 1.

Soon after, Miguelito took a corner and the Baixada team almost turned the game around. At 98, end of the match, Santos 1 x 1 Corinthians.

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