Corinthians outclassed by Santos at Vila Belmiro, lose again

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Central do Timão

·16 de octubre de 2025

Corinthians outclassed by Santos at Vila Belmiro, lose again

By Fabio Luigi / Central do Timão Editorial Team

On the night of Wednesday, October 15, Corinthians went to Vila Belmiro to face Santos in the Alvinegro classic for the 28th round of the Brazilian Championship and lost by a score of 3 x 1. The Alvinegro's goal was scored by midfielder Raniele after a cross from Matheuzinho. With the result, the club from Parque São Jorge remains in 12th position with 33 points (eight wins, nine draws, and 11 losses – 30 goals scored and 35 conceded).

In addition to coach Dorival Júnior (serving the second and final game of suspension), Corinthians could not count on the following players for the match: Hugo Souza (serving suspension and returning from the FIFA Date with the Brazilian National Team), André Ramalho (in the final phase of transition after a muscle injury) and Félix Torres (FIFA Date with Ecuador), Matheus Bidu (serving suspension), José Martínez (did not return after three days off due to personal problems), André Carrillo (final phase of physical transition), Ángel Romero (returning from the FIFA Date with Paraguay) and Vitinho (recovering from arthroscopy).

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Photo: Rodrigo Coca/Agência Corinthians

Given this, assistant Lucas Silvestre fielded the following team to start the duel: Felipe Longo; João Pedro Tchoca, Gustavo Henrique, and Fabrizio Angileri (Memphis Depay); Hugo Farias (Kayke), Raniele, Maycon (Rodrigo Garro), and Matheuzinho and Breno Bidon; Gui Negão (André) (Dieguinho) and Yuri Alberto. The bench had the following options: Kauê, Cacá, João Vitor ‘Jacaré’, Ryan, Charles, André, Luiz Gustavo, Dieguinho, Memphis Depay, Kayke, and Talles Magno.

Santos Lineup

Coach Juan Pablo Vojvoda fielded: Gabriel Brazão; Igor Vinícius, Adonis Frías, Luan Peres, and Escobar; João Schmidt, Zé Rafael, Barreal, and Rollheiser; Guilherme and Lautaro Díaz.

Refereeing

The referee was Flávio Rodrigues de Souza (SP), assisted by Danilo Ricardo Simon Manis (SP) and Leila Naiara Moreira da Cruz (DF). The fourth official and VAR were João Vitor Gobi (SP) and Wagner Reway (SC), respectively.

First Half

The first minutes of the clash between Santos and Corinthians saw greater ball possession by the Corinthians team, which started the duel playing with a back three, giving freedom to the two full-backs. At four minutes, Santos opened the scoring. Midfielder Barreal took a corner from the left side, and midfielder Zé Rafael, at the near post, headed with no chance for midfielder Zé Rafael.

At eight minutes, midfielder Maycon crossed into the area with danger, and goalkeeper Gabriel Brazão cleared it! After conceding the first goal, Corinthians maintained greater control of ball possession but had some difficulty creating and finishing plays in the opponent's offensive field.

At 17 minutes, after another corner from the left, Rollheiser shot weakly, and the ball fell to forward Lautaro Díaz near the penalty spot. The Argentine shot wide. With 22 minutes into the first half, Corinthians could not generate danger to the rival and began to have less control of possession, struggling with marking on the flanks and the central area of the field.

Santos, on the other hand, dominated the match and made it difficult for Corinthians to play out from the back. The two Corinthians forwards, Yuri Alberto and Gui Negão, barely touched the ball. At 27, the Alvinegro made a mistake playing out from the back, and midfielder Maycon was booked with a yellow card after fouling Barreal at the edge of the area. On the free-kick, goalkeeper Felipe Longo caught it without trouble.

Four minutes later, Yuri Alberto was fouled on the right side of the attacking field. On the free-kick, midfielder Maycon launched towards Gui Negão, but the ball ended up going too strong. On the rebound, Matheuzinho crossed from the right, and defender Gustavo Henrique headed wide.

At 35 minutes, midfielder Raniele committed a foul in the midfield. On the free-kick, Rollheiser shot over. Shortly after, Yuri Alberto made a mistake in the attacking field. Midfielder João Schmidt served Barreal, who cut inside and shot into Felipe Longo's top corner. Score: Santos 2 x 0 Corinthians.

Then, after the ball was left inside the area, goalkeeper Felipe Longo made a save without trouble after a low shot. At 43, Lautaro Díaz was played in behind right-back Matheuzinho, and the Santos forward shot wide. The referee added two more minutes, and at 45, the first half ended: 2 x 0 Santos.

The first half was completely dominated by the Santos team, which imposed itself over Corinthians and scored twice. The Corinthians team, in turn, struggled to play out from the back, with several players making technical errors.

Second Half

To start the second half, assistant Lucas Silvestre made two changes: left-back Hugo Farias and forward Gui Negão for the entries of midfielder André and forward Kayke.

As in the first half, Santos began the second half pressing Corinthians' play out from the back, which had difficulties moving forward with the ball on the ground. At five minutes, forward Lautaro Díaz crossed to Rollheiser at the edge of the area, who shot, with a deflection, wide.

At eight minutes, midfielder Breno Bidon pulled midfielder Zé Rafael inside the area. After VAR analysis, the penalty was awarded. On the penalty, Rollheiser scored the third by displacing Felipe Longo. At 12 minutes, the first goal for Corinthians! Matheuzinho took a corner from the right, and midfielder Raniele, alone, headed into the back of the net! Score: Santos 3 x 1 Corinthians.

After reducing the score, Corinthians slightly improved in the match and began to have slightly more control of ball possession. At 22 minutes of the second half: midfielder Maycon and left-back Fabrizio Angileri were replaced by midfielder Rodrigo Garro and forward Memphis Depay, respectively.

With the changes, Corinthians started to press and occupy more of the attacking field. At 35 minutes, after a cross into the area, defender Gustavo Henrique headed against the post! Five minutes later, Santos built a play on the right side, and Zé Rafael shot wide after a cross into the area.

When the clock hit 45 minutes, the referee added six minutes. At the end of the match, midfielder André, with bleeding, left the field for the entry of midfielder Dieguinho. At 51, the game ended: Santos 3 x 1 Corinthians.

Next Match

After facing Santos FC away in the Brazilian Championship, Corinthians remains focused on the national competition. On the next October 18, Saturday, at 6:30 pm (Brasília time), the Alvinegro will host Atlético-MG at Neo Química Arena in a match valid for the 29th round.

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