How Rosario Central shape up to face Corinthians in Libertadores last 16 | OneFootball

Corinthians begin their bid for a place in the Copa Libertadores quarterfinals this Thursday (13). At 9:30 p.m. (Brasília time), the black-and-white side visits Rosario Central at the Gigante de Arroyito Stadium in Argentina for the first leg of the round of 16. The opponent comes into the match in good form and has Ángel Di María as its main technical reference.

Rosario Central advanced to the knockout stage after finishing second in Group H. The Argentine side ended the group stage with the same record as Independiente del Valle but finished behind the Ecuadorian club on the head-to-head tiebreaker. One of the team’s main strengths in the campaign was its defense: they conceded just one goal in the six matches played.

Photo: Disclosure / CA Rosario Central

In the Argentine league, the situation is different. After four rounds of the Torneo Clausura, Rosario sit eighth in Group B with seven points. They have two wins, one draw, and one loss, along with four goals scored and three conceded.

Probable lineup

To face Corinthians, Rosario Central will be without Duarte, Giménez, and Marco Rúben. The trend is for Jorge Almirón to keep the core of the team used recently.

That way, Rosario Central should start with: Ledesma; Coronel, Ovando, Ávila and Sández; Ibarra, Pizarro, Julián Fernández, Di María and Campaz; Copetti.

Rosario Central’s current form

Jorge Almirón’s team comes into the round of 16 on a run of four matches without defeat. Considering only the Argentine league, they are unbeaten in three games.

The run began with a goalless draw away to Racing. Then Rosario Central earned an important 1-0 win over River Plate, also away from home and while playing with one man less for part of the match. In their most recent outing, played on Friday (7), they beat Aldosivi 2-1 at the Gigante de Arroyito.

Before that, their last defeat had come on July 23, when Belgrano beat Rosario 2-1. In the Copa Santa Fe, the team also drew 1-1 with Argentino de Rosario on July 26.

Their home form is another point of attention for Corinthians. In 16 home matches in 2026, Rosario Central have recorded ten wins, four draws, and just two defeats, with 24 goals scored and ten conceded. The Argentine side has not lost at the Gigante de Arroyito in 11 matches.

Defense stands out in the Libertadores

Defensive solidity was one of Rosario Central’s main features during the group stage of the continental competition. In six matches, the team was breached only once and reached the fourth round without conceding a goal.

In addition to their efficiency without the ball, the Argentine side usually plays an active role in building attacks. According to Sofascore data published by Placar magazine, the team averaged more than 57% possession during the group stage, with 84% pass accuracy and approximately 15 shots per match.

In attack, they scored nine goals in six Libertadores matches. Alejo Véliz, who played as center-forward during the first phase, left the club in this transfer window to join Bahia. With his departure, Enzo Copetti gained space as the main striker.

Di María is the main reference

A 2022 World Cup champion with Argentina, Ángel Di María is the standout name in Jorge Almirón’s squad. At 38, the player returned to the club where he came through the ranks and is expected to start against Corinthians.

The Argentine plays with freedom in attack and is directly involved in creating plays. In the current Libertadores edition, he has played five matches and scored two goals. According to Sofascore, Di María also averages 2.4 key passes per game in the competition.

Another important name is Colombian Jaminton Campaz, who mainly plays on the left and is known for his speed and dribbling. In midfield, Vicente Pizarro helps with build-up play, while Franco Ibarra performs a more defensive role.

Rosario Central strengthened the squad before the knockout stage

In addition to the players who took part in the first half of the season, the Argentine club used the transfer window to give Jorge Almirón more options. Four players were signed recently: Axel Werner, Franco Cervi, Tomás Badaloni, and Alan Rodríguez. Alan Rodríguez arrived on loan from Internacional, with a deal running until June 2027. The Uruguayan midfielder left the club from Rio Grande do Sul after making 30 appearances and providing one assist.

For goal, Rosario signed Axel Werner, formerly of Elche and most recently on loan at Aldosivi. Forward Tomás Badaloni arrived after playing for Mexico’s Necaxa, while Franco Cervi left Celta de Vigo to return to Argentine football.

Now, the teams meet again at the same stage of the competition. The first clash takes place this Thursday (13), at 9:30 p.m., in Rosario. Having finished the group stage top of their group, Corinthians will decide qualification in front of their own fans at Neo Química Arena next Thursday (20), also at 9:30 p.m.

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