Iago Machado set for another start for Corinthians against Fluminense | OneFootball

Corinthians could make an important change in defense for the match against Fluminense, scheduled for next Sunday in the 28th round of the Brazilian Championship. The expectation is that young Iago Machado will return to the starting lineup of Fernando Diniz’s team, according to information published by Meu Timão.

The possibility is directly linked to Gabriel Paulista’s condition. At 35, the defender has been dealing with pain in the pubic region and, according to information published by ge.globo, his presence in the match against the Rio de Janeiro side is still not guaranteed.

Photo: ©Rodrigo Gazzanel / Ag. Corinthians

If Gabriel Paulista is indeed unable to play, Iago is expected to form the center-back pairing with 33-year-old Gustavo Henrique. The two had been used in what is considered the team’s first-choice setup, while João Pedro Tchoca appeared as the immediate alternative on the bench.

André Ramalho is also available again. The player has recovered from a bout of labyrinthitis and returned to training normally with the squad this week. However, as he is still regaining match fitness after his time away, the expectation is that he will not start among the first eleven.

Even at just 17 years old, Iago Machado has been earning more space and is internally seen as one of the most promising names from the club’s youth academy. Born in 2009, the center-back has received positive evaluations from the coaching staff and has begun to be called up regularly for first-team matches. In fact, in the last six fixtures, he was among the substitutes.

His first opportunity as a starter for the senior team came last Sunday, precisely against Flamengo. At the Maracanã, Iago started the match alongside João Pedro Tchoca and remained on the field for more than 90 minutes in Corinthians’ 2-1 defeat.

Despite the negative result, the youngster played an important role defensively. According to Sofascore data, Iago recorded 14 defensive actions, won four duels, and also made one ball recovery during the match.

The defender is also enjoying a standout period in the club’s youth ranks. Across appearances for the Under-17 and Under-20 teams throughout 2026, Iago has already played 26 matches and found the net four times.

Corinthians have also moved to secure the player’s future. In October 2025, Iago signed a contract amendment that raised his release clause for the domestic market to R$66 million. The amount became the highest among the club’s youth academy players. For overseas transfers, the clause is set at €100 million. Iago Machado’s current contract with Corinthians runs until April 16, 2028.

The youngster’s possible return to the starting lineup comes at a delicate time for Corinthians. The team has suffered five consecutive defeats in the Brazilian Championship and was also eliminated from the Copa Libertadores by Argentina’s Estudiantes in the quarterfinals.

In the domestic competition, Timão currently sit in 14th place with 32 points. Their next match will be against Fluminense on Sunday at 4 p.m. at Neo Química Arena, in the 28th round of the Brasileirão.

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