Corinthians wrap up preparations to face Cruzeiro: check the likely line-up | OneFootball

Corinthians is preparing for a decisive clash against Cruzeiro this Sunday at 6 PM (Brasília time), at the Neo Química Arena, for the second leg of the Copa do Brasil semifinal. With the 1-0 advantage gained in the first leg, Timão aims to secure their spot in the final in front of their fans.

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Final Preparation at the Training Center

The Corinthians team concluded their preparation for the match on Saturday (13th) at the Dr. Joaquim Grava Training Center. After strength training in the gym and warm-up on the field, the squad led by coach Dorival Júnior carried out tactical activities focused on set pieces and penalty kicks. The goal is to secure a home victory and avoid surprises.

Lineup: Mystery

Coach Dorival Júnior has a doubt for the second leg of the semifinal: Raniele. The midfielder missed the team at Mineirão due to a left ankle edema. Meanwhile, forward Yuri Alberto was stretchered off in the second half against Cruzeiro and is awaiting medical evaluation.

The likely lineup for Corinthians is: Hugo Souza; Matheuzinho, André Ramalo, Gustavo Henrique, and Matheus Bidu; Martínez, Maycon, Carillo, and Bidon (Garro); Memphis and Yuri Alberto (Vitinho).

Confidence and Caution for the Clash

Despite the advantage built away from home, the Corinthians squad emphasizes caution and total focus on securing another victory. Defender André Ramalho highlighted the importance of maintaining an offensive stance but acknowledged the difficulty of the game.

“We have to enter the field seeking victory as we always do. We achieved a great result away from home, we have to understand that. However, we are at home, with our fans. We will certainly go for the victory,” stated the defender. He also anticipated a more challenging game than the first, with Cruzeiro seeking to overturn the score.

Timão's Campaign

Corinthians demonstrated solidity throughout the competition. In the third phase, they defeated Novorizontino in both matches (1-0 and 1-0). In the round of 16, they overcame Palmeiras with two victories (1-0 and 2-0). In the quarterfinals, they eliminated Athletico-PR with wins by 1-0 and 2-0. In the semifinal, they took the lead against Cruzeiro with a 1-0 victory.

Cruzeiro's Journey

Like Corinthians, Cruzeiro started their journey in the Copa do Brasil in the third phase. The Minas Gerais club eliminated Vila Nova, CRB, and Atlético-MG on their way to the semifinal.

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