Dorival Júnior keeps Corinthians forward slot open after Yuri Alberto injury | OneFootball

According to Meu Timao, Dorival Júnior has left the race for a starting place in Corinthians’ attack open after Yuri Alberto’s injury.

On Thursday night Corinthians beat Athletico-PR 1-0 at Arena da Baixada in a rescheduled round two match in the Campeonato Brasileiro. It was the first outing without Yuri Alberto, who has a grade 2 muscle injury in his left thigh and is sidelined.

With his first-choice centre-forward out, Dorival is testing internal options. In that game he turned to Vitinho, but Pedro Raul and Gui Negão are also under consideration.

Dorival accepted that Pedro Raul has had the fewest chances so far and said he wants the striker to raise his own intensity while the staff look to provide more minutes. He believes Pedro can still help, provided the push also comes from the player, praising him as balanced and hardworking. The coach added that Gui Negão and Vitinho have had more opportunities and that it is a matter of time before one of them claims the role, with the staff waiting.

Of Corinthians’ 12 games this season, Vitinho has featured in 11 and has one assist. Gui Negão has played eight and scored one goal. Pedro Raul has appeared seven times with one assist.

In a similar situation in 2025, when Yuri Alberto was also absent through injury, Dorival initially chose Gui Negão. At that stage Vitinho had just arrived and Pedro Raul was on loan at Ceará.

There is still no decision on who will partner Memphis Depay during the number 9’s absence. Corinthians face Portuguesa at Canindé on Sunday at 20:30 in a single-leg Campeonato Paulista quarter-final.

Source: Meu Timao