Corinthians hold off Athletico-PR, Garro stunner lifts them up

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Central do Timão

·20 February 2026

Corinthians hold off Athletico-PR, Garro stunner lifts them up

By Fabio Luigi / Central do Timão Editorial Team

On the night of this Thursday (19), Corinthians went to Arena da Baixada to face Athletico-PR, in a delayed match of the second round of the 2026 Brazilian Championship, and won by a score of 1 x 0. The goal for the Alvinegro was scored by midfielder Rodrigo Garro, halfway through the first half. With this result, the Corinthians team jumped to fifth place with six points in three games – four goals scored and two conceded.

The Corinthians coaching staff could not count on the following players for tonight's away match: defender Cacá (close to being announced at Vitória), left-backs Hugo Farias (right knee surgery) and Fabrizio Angileri (physical reconditioning), midfielder José Martínez (about to terminate contract), midfielder Breno Bidon (physical transition after muscle injury), as well as forwards Kaio César (right thigh posterior injury) and Yuri Alberto (grade 2 muscle injury).

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Photo: Heuler Andrey/Getty Images

Thus, Corinthians was lined up by coach Dorival Júnior as follows: Hugo Souza; Matheuzinho, Gabriel Paulista, Gustavo Henrique, and Matheus Bidu; Raniele, Matheus Pereira (André Ramalho), Charles (Allan), and Rodrigo Garro (Gui Negão); Vitinho (André Luiz) and Memphis Depay (André Carrillo).

The bench had the following options: Felipe Longo, Pedro Milans, João Pedro Tchoca, André Ramalho, Allan, Luiz Gustavo Bahia, André Luiz, Dieguinho, André Carrillo, Pedro Raul, Kayke, and Gui Negão.

Athletico-PR Lineup

Coach Odair Hellmann started the game with: Santos, Terán, Arthur Dias, and Esquivel; Benavídez, Portilla Luiz Gustavo, and Zapelli; Mendoza, Julimar, and Viveros. The substitutes were: Mycael, Gilberto, Léo, Felippinho, Léo Derick, João Cruz, Jadsin, Leozinho, Aguirre, Chiqueti, Bruninho, and Dudu.

Refereeing

The referee was Rodrigo José Pereira de Lima (PE), assisted by Rodrigo Figueiredo Henrique Correa (RJ) and Schumacher Marques Gomes (PB). The fourth referee and VAR were, respectively, Anderson Ribeiro Gonçalves (GO) and Wagner Reway (SC).

Next Match

After facing Athletico-PR away from home in the second round of the Brasileirão, Corinthians shifts its focus to the Paulista Championship. Next Sunday (22), at 8:30 pm (Brasília time), the Alvinegro faces Portuguesa at Canindé Stadium in the state quarterfinals. A draw takes the decision to penalties.

First Half

The first minutes of the match between Athletico-PR and Corinthians saw the Alvinegro pressing high in the opponent's defensive field and trying to maintain more possession. At two minutes, the left-back received a pass in the midfield and crossed low towards forward Memphis Depay, who almost managed to finish on Santos' goal. The ball went out for a goal kick.

Two minutes later, forward Viveros received a deep pass over the top, went past defender Gabriel Paulista, and, face to face with Hugo Souza, shot wide past the goal line. In the next play, the number 9 saw Matheus Bidu make a mistake in ball clearance, and when he lobbed over Corinthians' number 1, the ball went out past the goal line.

With six minutes into the game, Athletico-PR had already reduced Corinthians' initial momentum and started to pose some danger by forcing errors in the Corinthians defense. With almost a third of the first half gone, the Alvinegro was struggling to create plays in the offensive field. At 13 minutes, a penalty was awarded to the opponent, as left-back Matheus Bidu kicked forward Viveros' shin. On the penalty kick, Julimar shot to the right corner of Hugo Souza and missed!

At 20 minutes, the first goal for Corinthians! Right-back Matheuzinho crossed towards Memphis Depay. The ball ended up with midfielder Rodrigo Garro at the edge of the area, who struck it into the top corner of Santos' goal! Score: Athletico-PR 0 x 1 Corinthians. Two minutes later, Viveros received on the left, went past the Corinthians defense, and shot firmly for Hugo Souza to make the save!

At 26 minutes, the Corinthians defense, with Gustavo Henrique, made a mistake in ball clearance. Number 13 played a short back pass to Hugo Souza, who came out of the goal to clear with a sliding tackle before Viveros could reach it. With half of the first half gone, the Alvinegro, even ahead on the scoreboard, was leaving spaces for the opponent. After a scramble in the area, the Paraná team almost equalized with Viveros.

Approaching the end of the first half, the Parque Jorge club, even with the lead, had less control of possession and saw the opponent command and pose danger in most offensive plays they created. The Parque São Jorge club had difficulties in ball clearance, as Raniele and Charles have more defensive characteristics.

At 41 minutes, Benavídez received at the right end line and passed to Zapelli inside. Number 10 crossed, and Matheuzinho cleared for a corner. On the corner kick, the Paraná team's midfielder crossed, and the Corinthians defense cleared again. Four minutes later, at 45, the refereeing added six more minutes to the match.

At 46 minutes, Athletico-PR launched a counterattack, resulting in a corner on the left. On the corner kick, slightly open, Hugo Souza hesitated whether to leave the goal or not, and the Paraná team almost equalized. The ball, however, went past everyone. Three minutes later, midfielder Rodrigo Garro was fouled in the midfield, and on the free kick, forward Memphis Depay hit the wall.

At 51, end of the first half: Athletico-PR 0 x 1 Corinthians. Throughout the first half, the Parque São Jorge club struggled with ball clearance and, besides that, in finishing plays when they had chances in the offensive field. The opponent, on the other hand, was mainly troublesome with forward Viveros, who caused many difficulties for the Corinthians defense up to that point.

Second Half

To start the second half, coach Dorival Júnior made no changes. In the first minutes of the final half, Athletico-PR, needing to chase the result, started with an offensive stance, much like in most of the first half. At three minutes, the Paraná team stole the ball in the offensive field and couldn't finish inside the area.

Soon after, left-back Esquivel burst forward in the midfield and shot, with a deflection, from outside the area, near Hugo Souza's right angle. On the corner kick, the Corinthians defense cleared. At five minutes, right-back Benavídez, inside, passed to Mendonza on the right wing and struck a low shot, and Hugo Souza made a great save!

Soon after, Chiqueti was launched on the left wing, went past Matheuzinho, and crossed to the middle of the area. Hugo Souza spilled it inside the area, and on the rebound, Athletico-PR shot over the goal! With 10 minutes into the half, Corinthians could hardly 'breathe' in the match and had difficulties maintaining possession, being completely dominated by the opponent.

Amidst Athletico-PR's pressure, Corinthians made the first three changes: midfielders Allan and André, along with forward Gui Negão, came in for midfielder Charles, forward Vitinho, and midfielder Rodrigo Garro, respectively. With the changes, the Alvinegro now had a more technical midfield and, in theory, more quality to clear the ball and maintain possession.

At 20 minutes, forward Viveros received on the right and crossed into the area, where Chiqueti almost finished, sliding, on Hugo Souza's goal! Heading into the final half of the second half, both teams were making many passing errors in the offensive sectors and had some difficulty overcoming defensive markings.

Soon after, Athletico-PR, with Bruninho, received in the midfield and shot, from afar and low, into the hands of goalkeeper Hugo Souza. At 29, midfielder Matheus Pereira left the field for defender André Ramalho – fourth and penultimate substitution. Six minutes later, André Luiz received from Memphis Depay in the midfield and hit the opponent's defense.

Later, Athletico-PR launched a counterattack and Zapelli, at the edge of the area, shot wide. At 36 minutes, the last change for Corinthians: forward Memphis Depay left the field for midfielder André Carrillo. Then, Matheus Bidu suffered a hard tackle from midfielder João Cruz and had to be attended to.

At 42 minutes, under opponent pressure in the offensive field, João Cruz took a corner from the right, and Benavídez headed for a great save by goalkeeper Hugo Souza, who palmed it out for a corner! In a new play, the Corinthians defense cleared. When the clock hit 45 minutes, six more minutes were added.

After a pause for Hugo Souza's attention, three more minutes were added. Three minutes later, Athletico-PR reached the left wing, and the Corinthians defense cleared the danger. In the final half, the Paraná team did not have the same number of clear chances created, and the Alvinegro, in turn, managed the result.

Due to a new stoppage, four more minutes were added, totaling 13 added minutes. At 58 minutes, end of the game! Score: Athletico-PR 0 x 1 Corinthians!

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