How Fluminense shape up for Corinthians in Brasileirão, ex-factor | OneFootball

Corinthians host Fluminense this Sunday (20) at 4 p.m. (Brasília time) at Neo Química Arena for the 28th round of the Brazilian Championship. While Timão are trying to stop a run of five straight defeats in the competition, their opponent arrives in Itaquera sitting in fifth place and boosted by qualification for the Copa Libertadores semifinals.

Fluminense have 45 points from 27 matches, with 12 wins, nine draws, and six losses. The Rio de Janeiro side have scored 41 goals and conceded 35, placing them in the qualification zone for next season’s Libertadores and close to the clubs currently in the G-4.

Photo: Marcelo Gonçalves / Fluminense

Their recent form is also positive. In their last six matches, considering both the Brasileirão and Libertadores, Tricolor have won four, drawn one, and lost only one. That lone defeat came in their most recent match, a 2-1 loss to Platense last Tuesday (15). Despite the setback, the result did not prevent them from reaching the continental tournament semifinals, since Fluminense had won the first leg 2-0.

Before that, in the Brazilian Championship, the Rio side beat Vitória 2-1 and Coritiba 1-0, in addition to drawing 3-3 with Athletico-PR.

Fluminense expected to make changes in Itaquera

After the decisive Libertadores match, coach Marcão is expected to change the starting lineup to face Corinthians. The tendency is for at least four changes compared to the team used against Platense.

Guga, who felt discomfort during the continental competition match, will be rested and did not travel to São Paulo. As a result, Samuel Xavier should start at right-back.

The midfield should also undergo changes. Nonato returns after serving a suspension in the Libertadores and is set to take Hércules’ place. Lucho Acosta, in turn, should replace Ganso.

In attack, Kevin Serna is tipped to start in place of Soteldo. The coaching staff’s intention is to use the Colombian’s pace and his ability to track back on the flanks.

Thus, the likely Fluminense lineup to face Corinthians is: Fábio; Samuel Xavier, Thiago Silva, Julián Millán and Renê; Martinelli, Nonato and Lucho Acosta; Canobbio, Kevin Serna and Hulk.

Fluminense already beat Corinthians in the first half of the season

This Sunday’s clash will be the second meeting between the clubs in the 2026 Brazilian Championship. In the first half of the season, played in Rio de Janeiro, Fluminense won 3-1.

John Kennedy, Hércules, and Castillo scored for the Rio club, while André pulled one back for Corinthians. That means the club from Laranjeiras arrive in Itaquera with the chance to beat Timão in both league meetings in the same Brasileirão season for the first time since 2022.

Since the round-robin format was introduced in 2003, Fluminense have achieved the so-called “double” over Corinthians in three seasons: 2016, 2019, and 2022.

The last time came four years ago. In 2022, the Rio club won 4-0 at the Maracanã and repeated the positive result in the second half of the season, when they won 2-0 at Neo Química Arena.

The ex-player rule could come into play for Fluminense

Besides the teams’ current form and their place in the table, the match could feature a familiar ingredient in Brazilian football. Guilherme Arana, developed by Corinthians, now plays for Fluminense and may face the club where he began his professional career.

A product of Corinthians’ youth academy, the left-back built the first chapter of his professional career wearing Timão’s shirt. Between 2015 and 2017, he played 87 matches, 78 of them as a starter, and recorded 51 wins, 25 draws, and 11 losses.

Arana also contributed offensively with four goals and ten assists, totaling 14 direct goal involvements during his spell at Parque São Jorge.

The full-back was part of the squads that won the Brazilian Championship in 2015 and 2017, as well as the 2017 Campeonato Paulista. His debut came in August 2015, in Corinthians’ 4-3 win over Sport in the Brasileirão.

His last appearance came in November 2017, in a 2-2 draw against Atlético-MG. After standing out in the black-and-white shirt, especially during the 2017 season, Arana left the club for Sevilla of Spain.

Now on the other side, the player could return to Neo Química Arena as an opponent and star in a possible episode of the so-called Ex-Player Rule.

Corinthians try to respond in the Brasileirão

While Fluminense come into the round in fifth place, Corinthians begin it in a different situation. Timão sit 14th with 32 points from 27 matches, with eight wins, eight draws, and 11 defeats.

Fernando Diniz’s team are also carrying a run of five consecutive defeats in the Brazilian Championship and are coming off elimination against Estudiantes-ARG in the Libertadores quarterfinals.

For the match, Raniele returns after serving a suspension against the Argentinians. Gabriel Paulista, who missed the last two training sessions due to pain in the pubic area, is doubtful, while Carrillo also missed activities due to muscle fatigue. Breno Bidon, absent from Friday’s training session, returned to the pitch on Saturday.

The likely Corinthians lineup is: Hugo Souza; Matheuzinho, João Pedro Tchoca, Gustavo Henrique and Matheus Bidu; Raniele, Allan, Breno Bidon and Rodrigo Garro; Kaio César and Memphis Depay.

With different scenarios in the standings, Corinthians and Fluminense face off at 4 p.m. this Sunday. For Timão, the match represents an opportunity to end their negative run in the Brasileirão. On the other side, Tricolor seek to remain close to the top spots before the break in the calendar.

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