Corinthians look to improve their record in the Libertadores round of 16 | OneFootball

Corinthians will play in the Copa Libertadores round of 16 for the 14th time and will have the task of improving a record that, so far, shows negative numbers. In the 13 previous appearances at this stage of the competition, Timão managed to advance to the quarterfinals only five times.

Across those appearances, Timão played 26 round-of-16 matches, collecting only seven wins, along with eight draws and 11 losses. Their points percentage stands at 37.2%, while their goal difference is also negative: 33 goals scored and 34 conceded.

Rodrigo Coca/Corinthians Agency

Look back at the matchups

The club’s first experience at this stage came in 1991 against Boca Juniors. Corinthians lost 3-1 in Argentina, with two goals from Batistuta, and drew 1-1 at Morumbi, a result that was not enough to avoid elimination.

Five years later, in 1996, came the first qualification for the quarterfinals. Against Emelec of Ecuador, Timão won 3-1 at the Olímpico Atahualpa in Quito and won again at Pacaembu, this time 2-0, with goals from Marcelinho Carioca and Tupãzinho.

In 1999, the opponent was Jorge Wilstermann of Bolivia. After drawing 1-1 in Cochabamba, Corinthians cruised through with a 5-2 rout at Pacaembu.

The following year, in 2000, Timão faced Rosario Central, this season’s round-of-16 opponent. The tie had dramatic twists: the Argentines won the first leg 3-2, while Corinthians returned the favor in the second leg at Pacaembu. The black-and-white side’s qualification was ultimately decided on penalties.

River Plate, meanwhile, was responsible for two Corinthians eliminations in the round of 16, in 2003 and 2006. In the first meeting, the Argentines won both matches 2-1. Three years later, in 2006, River eliminated Timão again. They won 3-2 at the Monumental and 3-1 at Pacaembu. The second match ended in the 37th minute of the second half after part of the crowd tried to invade the pitch following River’s third goal, amid protests over the imminent elimination.

In 2010, the year of Corinthians’ centenary, the opponent was Flamengo. Timão lost 1-0 at the Maracanã and, in the return leg at Pacaembu, even went 2-0 up. However, they conceded in the second half and were eliminated on the away-goals rule.

The 2012 title run began in the round of 16, and disappointment came in 2013

The campaign that ended with Corinthians’ first Libertadores title began in the round of 16 against Emelec. In the first match in Ecuador, the teams drew 0-0. In the return leg at Pacaembu, Timão won 3-0, with goals from Fábio Santos, Paulinho and Alex.

That qualification against the Ecuadorians opened the way for the historic run that followed. In the next rounds, Corinthians eliminated Vasco and Santos before defeating Boca Juniors in the final to win the continental title.

The following year, however, Corinthians were once again eliminated in the round of 16 by Boca Juniors. After losing 1-0 at La Bombonera, Timão drew 1-1 at Pacaembu and exited the competition in a match marked by referee Carlos Amarilla’s mistakes, as he failed to award two penalties for Corinthians and disallowed two of the team’s goals for non-existent offsides.

Despite playing solid and exciting football, especially in the Brasileirão, in 2015 Corinthians fell to Guaraní of Paraguay in the Libertadores round of 16. In the first leg, they lost 2-0 to the Paraguayans, and in the return leg they were beaten 1-0 in Itaquera.

The away goal rule haunts them…

In 2016, there was another disappointment at the same stage of the tournament. Timão were eliminated by Nacional of Uruguay after two draws: 0-0 away and 2-2 at the Arena. Then in 2018, Colo-Colo of Chile knocked Corinthians out right at Neo Química Arena. The Chilean side won the first leg at home 1-0 and lost 2-1 to Timão at the Arena. On both occasions, the away-goals rule determined who advanced.

Most recent

Corinthians’ last appearance in the Libertadores round of 16 came in 2022. On that occasion, the black-and-white side faced and eliminated Boca Juniors after two scoreless draws. In the penalty shootout at La Bombonera, Cássio shone and Timão advanced with a 6-5 win on penalties.

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