Memphis aims to end long Corinthians drought on key Libertadores night

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Central do Timão

·16 September 2026

Memphis aims to end long Corinthians drought on key Libertadores night

By Mirella Ramos / Central do Timão Editorial Staff

Corinthians take the field this Wednesday (16) to decide their future in the Libertadores, and Memphis Depay will have the chance to end a drought that has now lasted six months. The No. 10 has not found the net for the club since March 15 and will try to get back to scoring in a setting where he has already played an important role since his arrival: knockout matches.

This season, the forward has just one goal and two assists in 19 matches. Those numbers contrast with the performances Memphis has delivered in knockout games since he began wearing the black-and-white shirt.

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Photo: Rodrigo Coca/Ag. Corinthians

Considering the knockout competitions Corinthians have played since 2024, the Dutchman has totaled four goals and nine assists in 24 matches. That means 13 direct goal contributions over that span.

The next opportunity will come against Estudiantes at 9:30 p.m. (Brasília time) at Neo Química Arena, in the second leg of the Libertadores quarterfinals. After a 1-1 draw in La Plata, a win sends Timão to the semifinals, while another draw will take the decision to penalties.

Memphis’ last goal came in March

The scoreless stretch began after the match played on March 15. Since then, Memphis has been unable to find the net again for Corinthians.

His attacking output in 2026 is also below the level the No. 10 has previously shown for the club. In 19 matches this year, the forward has three direct goal contributions, with one goal and two assists.

Wednesday’s clash, however, once again puts Memphis in a situation in which he has managed to be decisive at different moments of his time at Parque São Jorge.

No. 10 has 13 goal contributions in knockout matches

Memphis’ first contribution in a knockout match for Timão came back in 2024. In the Copa Sudamericana quarterfinals, he provided an assist in the 3-0 win over Fortaleza.

In that competition’s semifinals, he again contributed directly to goals in both matches against Argentina’s Racing. The Dutchman provided an assist in the 2-2 draw in São Paulo and another in the 2-1 loss in Argentina.

It was in 2025, however, that the forward racked up most of his contributions in high-stakes matches. Memphis provided assists in both games against Venezuela’s Universidad Central in the Libertadores preliminary round.

In the Campeonato Paulista, he scored and assisted in the 2-0 win over Mirassol in the quarterfinals. Then he set up a goal in the 2-1 victory over Santos in the semifinal and again provided an assist in the 1-0 win over Palmeiras in the first leg of the state final.

Memphis also made his mark in Corinthians’ 2025 Copa do Brasil campaign. The No. 10 scored against Palmeiras in the round of 16, against Cruzeiro in the semifinal, and in the final against Vasco da Gama.

Assist in the 2026 Libertadores

This season, Memphis’ only direct goal contribution in a knockout match came in the Libertadores.

In the round of 16, the forward provided an assist in Corinthians’ 1-0 win over Argentina’s Rosario Central, a result that secured qualification for the black-and-white side after a goalless draw in the first match.

As a result, Memphis’ 13 direct goal contributions in knockout matches for Corinthians are distributed as follows:

2024

Corinthians 3 x 0 Fortaleza, Sudamericana quarterfinals: one assist;
Corinthians 2 x 2 Racing, Sudamericana semifinal: one assist;
Racing 2 x 1 Corinthians, Sudamericana semifinal: one assist.

2025

Universidad Central 1 x 1 Corinthians, Libertadores preliminary round: one assist;
Corinthians 3 x 2 Universidad Central, Libertadores preliminary round: one assist;
Corinthians 2 x 0 Mirassol, Paulista quarterfinals: one goal and one assist;
Corinthians 2 x 1 Santos, Paulista semifinal: one assist;
Palmeiras 0 x 1 Corinthians, Paulista final: one assist;
Corinthians 1 x 0 Palmeiras, Copa do Brasil round of 16: one goal;
Cruzeiro 0 x 1 Corinthians, Copa do Brasil semifinal: one goal;
Vasco da Gama 1 x 2 Corinthians, Copa do Brasil final: one goal.

2026