Corinthians host Estudiantes again, three years after Arena win | OneFootball

Corinthians and Estudiantes will share the pitch at Neo Química Arena again this Wednesday (16), at 9:30 p.m. Brasília time, for the second leg of the Libertadores quarterfinals. Despite the history between Brazilian and Argentine clubs, there is only one previous meeting between them in Itaquera, coincidentally in another continental knockout tie.

Estudiantes’ only visit to Corinthians’ home came on August 22, 2023, also in the quarterfinals, but of the Copa Sudamericana. On that occasion, Timão won 1-0 and took the advantage in the race for a place among the competition’s final four.

Photo: Marcos Ribolli

Three years later, the clubs meet again at the black-and-white side’s stadium and, once more, with continental qualification at stake. This time, however, the situation is different: after a 1-1 draw in the first leg in La Plata, the tie arrives in São Paulo with neither side holding an advantage.

Gil decided the first meeting in Itaquera

On that night in 2023, Corinthians were managed by Vanderlei Luxemburgo and hosted an Estudiantes side that caused problems, especially in the opening minutes. The Argentine team found spaces in attack, but it was Timão who managed to turn a set piece into the lead.

The only goal came in the first half. After a corner taken by Matías Rojas, Gil appeared at the far post and finished to open the scoring. The ball even hit the crossbar before going in.

After falling behind, Estudiantes responded and came close to equalizing. Sosa hit the post with a free kick, while Cássio was also tested during the first half. Corinthians, in turn, managed the result well and went into the break ahead.

The match lost intensity in the second half. With the lead in hand, Timão adopted a more cautious approach and looked to exploit the spaces left by the Argentines. One of the best chances to extend the lead came in the closing minutes, when Romero won the ball back and set up Gustavo Mosquito, but the forward could not make the most of it. The score stayed 1-0 until the final whistle.

The 2023 team featured notable names from that period

For that match, Luxemburgo lined up Corinthians with Cássio; Bruno Méndez, Gil, Murillo and Fábio Santos; Gabriel Moscardo, Maycon and Renato Augusto; Matías Rojas, Biro and Yuri Alberto. During the second half, Gustavo Mosquito, Giuliano, Romero and Ruan Oliveira were brought on by the coach.

On the other side, Estudiantes started with Andújar; Leo Godoy, Santiago Núñez, Lollo and Eros Mancuso; Jorge Rodríguez, Ascacíbar, Zuqui and Sosa; Rollheiser and Boselli.

Home win was key to the 2023 qualification

The advantage built at Neo Química Arena proved crucial a week later. In the second meeting, played in La Plata, Estudiantes won 1-0 and left the aggregate score level at 1-1.

The place then had to be decided on penalties. Corinthians came out on top in the shootout and eliminated the Argentines, advancing to the Copa Sudamericana semifinals.

As a result, the head-to-head record specifically at Neo Química Arena remains perfect for Timão: one match and one win, with one goal scored and none conceded.

New meeting is for a place in the Libertadores semifinals

This Wednesday’s scenario has some similarities to 2023. Corinthians and Estudiantes are once again contesting the quarterfinals of a continental tournament, and the tie also arrives at Neo Química Arena without a comfortable gap between the teams.

In the first meeting of the current Libertadores edition, played last Wednesday (9) at Jorge Luis Hirschi Stadium in La Plata, the clubs drew 1-1.

That is why the equation for the second leg is simple. Whoever wins in regulation time will qualify for the semifinals. If there is another draw, regardless of the score, the place will be decided on penalties.

After hosting Estudiantes for the first time three years ago and celebrating a victory that later helped secure qualification, Corinthians are trying to repeat the result in Itaquera. This time, the prize is a place among the final four in the Libertadores.

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