Corinthians match rare feat with five homegrown starters v Flamengo | OneFootball

The lineup chosen by Fernando Diniz to face Flamengo last Sunday (13) drew attention not only because of the changes made with an eye on the Copa Libertadores. The presence of five players developed in Corinthians’ youth academy among the starters placed the match at the Maracanã among the club’s biggest records in this regard.

João Pedro Tchoca, Iago Machado, Matheus Pereira, Dieguinho, and Gui Negão started the match valid for the 27th round of the Brazilian Championship. According to a survey based on the Meu Timão database, only one Corinthians match had a higher number of players produced by the club itself in the starting lineup.

Photo: Rodrigo Coca / Agência Corinthians

The record belongs to the match against Boca Juniors in the 2022 Libertadores group stage. On that occasion, eight players with a background in Corinthians’ youth system started the game: Fagner, João Victor, Raul Gustavo, Du Queiroz, Maycon, Willian, Adson, and Jô.

Mark reached only four times

Even below the record set four years ago, the lineup used against Flamengo reached a level rarely seen in Corinthians history. This was only the fourth time the club started a match with exactly five players developed in its youth academy.

Before 2026, that number had been reached in three different seasons: 1991, 1999, and 2024. The match at the Maracanã therefore added another chapter to a list that spans different generations of Corinthians.

The survey also considers as club-developed those players who came through Corinthians’ youth ranks, left the club permanently, and later returned. That is the case of Matheus Pereira in the lineup used against Flamengo. In the 2022 record, Fagner, Maycon, and Willian also fit this criterion.

New generation gains space under Fernando Diniz

The mark was reached in a match in which Diniz chose to rest key names with the decisive Libertadores clash against Estudiantes in mind. The decision opened space for players who had been playing less and for youngsters developed at Parque São Jorge.

Among them, Iago Machado experienced a special moment. At 17, the defender made his professional debut precisely at the Maracanã and against Flamengo. The youngster stayed on for the entire match and received praise from Fernando Diniz afterward.

João Pedro Tchoca was also part of the defensive system from the start. Further forward, Dieguinho and Gui Negão started in attack, while Matheus Pereira appeared in midfield.

The youngsters’ involvement also had a direct impact on the scoreline. Gui Negão scored Corinthians’ goal in the 2-1 defeat, a result that kept Timão on 32 points in the Brazilian Championship.

The presence of five players tied to Corinthians’ youth development among the starting 11 reinforces a movement Diniz had already highlighted after the match. The coach said he closely follows the integration between the youth ranks and the professional squad, but stressed that the youngsters are used according to the confidence they earn in training.

Now, after a lineup that became part of a historic chapter for the club, Corinthians turns its attention to the Libertadores. This Wednesday (16), at 9:30 p.m. Brasília time, Timão hosts Estudiantes at Neo Química Arena in the second leg of the quarterfinals. The first leg, played in Argentina, ended in a 1-1 draw.

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