Corinthians set for Estudiantes in Libertadores quarter-final opener | OneFootball

On the afternoon of this Tuesday (8), Corinthians wrapped up, at Defensa y Justicia’s Campeones del Mundo training center, its preparations for its next commitment of the season. That is because, on the night of this Wednesday (9), at 9:30 p.m. (Brasília time), Alvinegro will visit Estudiantes at Jorge Luis Hirschi Stadium, in La Plata, Argentina, for the first leg of the Libertadores quarterfinals.

The Corinthians squad began the day with activation work in the gym and then moved on to a warm-up on the pitch. There, head coach Fernando Diniz conducted a ten-versus-ten tactical session. The manager also used the moment to give the squad instructions regarding certain game situations. Finally, set-piece plays were worked on.

Photo: Rodrigo Coca/Agência Corinthians

Corinthians, therefore, should start the match with the following lineup: Hugo Souza; Matheuzinho, Gabriel Paulista, Gustavo Henrique and Matheus Bidu; Allan; André Carrillo, Breno Bidon and Rodrigo Garro; Kaio César and Memphis Depay. The new development is the return of defensive midfielder Allan, who served a suspension in the second leg of the Round of 16 against Rosario Central-ARG at Neo Química Arena after being sent off in the first leg.

On the other hand, the coaching staff has a long list of players unavailable for the match due to injury or suspension: center-back André Ramalho (partial work with the group after a bout of labyrinthitis), defensive midfielders Raniele (suspended) and André Luiz (still recovering from a grade 2 injury to the hamstring in his right thigh), midfielders Vitinho (in physical transition, in the final stage of recovery from surgery on the meniscus in his left knee) and Zakaria Labyad (recovering from surgery on the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee), as well as forwards Kayke Ferrari (recovering from surgery on the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee) and Yuri Alberto (still being treated for a grade 2 injury to the hamstring in his right thigh).

Throughout its history in the international competition, Corinthians has already reached the tournament’s quarterfinal stage on six occasions, advancing in 2000 and 2012 and being eliminated in 1996, 1999, and 2022. If the club from Parque São Jorge reaches the semifinals, it will mark its best Libertadores campaign since its historic unbeaten title in 2012. Since then, Timão has fallen in the Round of 16 in 2013, 2015, 2016, and 2018. Meanwhile, in 2020 and 2025, it was eliminated in the preliminary stage. The best campaign since then was in 2022, when it was knocked out by Flamengo in the quarterfinals, as already mentioned.

Conmebol Libertadores campaign and accumulated prize money

In the group stage, Alvinegro advanced as the leader of Group E with 11 points — three wins, two draws, and one loss — with eight goals scored and nine conceded. Timão’s group included Platense-ARG, Peñarol-URU, and Santa Fé-COL. In the Round of 16, in turn, it eliminated Rosario Central-ARG. In the first match, in Buenos Aires, there was a scoreless draw. In the return leg, at Neo Química Arena, Corinthians won 1-0.

For its performance in the international competition, Corinthians has already accumulated R$ 25.9 million. Of that total, R$ 16.9 million came from its group-stage campaign, while the remainder refers to qualification for the quarterfinals.

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