Corinthians striker seeks to match longest starting run since signing | OneFootball

Corinthians open their Copa Libertadores last-16 campaign away to Rosario Central at 21:30 on Thursday, aiming to take a first-leg lead at the Estadio Gigante de Arroyito. The tie could also bring a personal milestone into view for Pedro Raul.

As reported by Meu Timao, it could be a pivotal chance for the striker to cement himself as Yuri Alberto’s stand-in. Alberto is recovering from a grade 2 muscle injury to the back of his right thigh, and Pedro Raul has scored in each of his last two outings.

If Fernando Diniz selects him to start, the No 18 would register a third successive start. He began against Internacional in the Copa do Brasil and Red Bull Bragantino in the Brasileirão on 6 and 9, scoring once in each and helping deliver two wins.

Since joining in 2024, he has matched a three-start run only twice, first in February against Novorizontino, Santos and Portuguesa in the Paulistão, then between March and April versus São Bernardo in the Copa do Brasil, Londrina in a friendly and Racing Montevideo of Uruguay in the Sudamericana.

Should he score in Argentina, it would be his first run of three consecutive goals in almost a year and a half, last achieved at Ceará with strikes against Fortaleza in the Cearense, then Red Bull Bragantino and Grêmio in the Brasileirão between March and April 2025.

Corinthians topped Group E with three wins, two draws and one defeat for 11 points. Rosario Central were runners-up in Group H with 12 points from four wins, one draw and one loss, conceding only one goal in that phase.

Source: Meu Timao

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”