Corinthians field five academy starters, highest tally since 2022 | OneFootball

Corinthians lost 2-1 to Flamengo at the Maracanã in the Campeonato Brasileiro’s 27th round, but started five academy graduates. Seventeen-year-old Iago Machado was among them on his professional debut.

According to Fiel Imprensa on X, it was the club’s second-highest number of homegrown starters. Fernando Diniz selected defenders Iago Machado and João Pedro Tchoca, midfielder Matheus Pereira and forwards Gui Negão and Dieguinho.

The record dates back to 26 April 2022, a 2-0 Libertadores win over Boca Juniors, when eight Terrão products started. They were Fagner, João Victor, Raul Gustavo, Du Queiroz, Maycon, Willian, Adson and Jô.

Sunday’s figure matched three previous occasions with five academy starters. In 1991, a 3-1 Libertadores defeat to Boca Juniors featured Ronaldo, Marcelo Djian, Marcio Bittencourt, Dinei and Paulo Sérgio.

In 1999, again in the continental competition, Índio, Cris, Sylvinho, Dinei and Fernando Baiano began against Cerro Porteño, a match Corinthians won 8-2. The most recent was in 2024, a 0-0 draw with Água Santa when João Pedro Tchoca, Caetano, Raul Gustavo, Ryan and Guilherme Biro started under interim Bruno Lazaroni, then assistant to António Oliveira.

With the youngsters still available to Diniz, Corinthians now host Estudiantes on Wednesday at 21:30 in the Libertadores quarter-final second leg at Neo Química Arena.

Source: Meu Timao

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