Corinthians visit Cruzeiro in Women’s Brasileirão knockout opener | OneFootball

Corinthians begin their 2026 Brazilian Women’s Championship knockout campaign this Monday (31). At 7:15 p.m. (Brasília time), the Brabas face Cruzeiro at Arena Independência in Belo Horizonte in the first leg of the quarterfinals. As the reigning champions, Timão are looking to build an advantage before deciding the tie at home.

The team coached by Emily Lima reached the knockout stage with the second-best record of the first phase. In 17 matches, Corinthians earned 38 points, with 12 wins, two draws, and three losses. First place slipped away in the final round after a 3-1 defeat to Internacional at Fazendinha, a result that allowed São Paulo to finish the qualifying stage in first.

Photo: Rodrigo Gazzanel / Ag. Corinthians

Cruzeiro, meanwhile, finished the first phase in seventh place. The Minas Gerais side went through ups and downs throughout the season and had to deal with several fitness issues in the squad, including injuries that sidelined players for extended periods.

The matchup also pits the finalists from the last edition of the Brasileirão against each other. In 2025, Corinthians and Cruzeiro drew 2-2 in the first leg of the final, played at Arena Independência. In the return leg, the Brabas won 1-0 at Neo Química Arena, with a goal from Thaís Ferreira, and lifted the trophy.

In the meeting between the teams in the first phase of the current edition, however, the result was different. On May 18, Cruzeiro beat Corinthians 3-2 at Arena do Jacaré. So, besides seeking an advantage in the quarterfinals, Timão are trying to claim their first win over the Cabulosas this season.

Points still matter during the knockout stage

Even with the start of the knockout rounds, the points earned continue to be added to those obtained in the first phase. The overall standings will be used to determine home-field advantage in the following rounds, which keeps the race for the top spots relevant throughout the knockout stage.

That means Corinthians can still make up ground and earn the right to decide at home if they reach the next rounds. If they eliminate Cruzeiro, Alvinegro will face whoever advances from the clash between Palmeiras and Bahia in the semifinals.

The most successful club in the Brazilian Women’s Championship, Corinthians are looking to extend a dominance built over recent years. They have seven titles, won in 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025, with the last six coming consecutively.

Before starting the quarterfinals, the Brabas come off a win in the Paulista Championship. Last Thursday (27), Corinthians thrashed Taubaté 6-2 at Fazendinha, a result that secured the team a place in the state competition play-in. Across their last five matches, Timão have recorded three wins, one draw, and one loss.

Probable lineup and absences

When putting the team together, Emily Lima is expected to remain without Juliete. The left-back is being treated for inflammation in her Achilles tendon. Dayana Rodríguez is also likely to be unavailable, as the Venezuelan defensive midfielder did not take part in the team’s most recent activities due to muscle problems.

The new addition could be Andressa Alves. Recovered from a hamstring injury, the midfielder is expected to be available again to the coaching staff for the match.

Given this scenario, Corinthians could start the match with Nicole Ramos (Lelê); Ivana Fuso, Thaís Regina, Thaís Ferreira and Tamires; Ana Vitória (Letícia Monteiro), Andressa Alves and Duda Sampaio; Jhonson (Belén Aquino), Gabi Zanotti and Jaqueline.

Officiating

The referee at Arena Independência will be Elizabete Esmeralda Cordeiro dos Santos Gomes, from Ceará. She will be assisted by Brígida Cirilo Ferreira and Jordana Pereira Batista. Jéssica Lorrany da Silva will serve as the fourth official. Elmo Alves Resende Cunha will be in charge of VAR.

Broadcast

The first quarterfinal clash between Cruzeiro and Corinthians will be broadcast exclusively by SporTV on pay television. Kickoff is at 7:15 p.m. (Brasília time) at Arena Independência.

Next match

After the clash in Belo Horizonte, Corinthians and Cruzeiro will meet again next Monday (7), at 5 p.m. (Brasília time), for the second leg of the quarterfinals. The Brabas will have home advantage, but the stadium has not yet been defined. The second match will also be broadcast by SporTV.

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