How Fluminense shape up to face Corinthians in the Brasileirão | OneFootball

Corinthians will face Fluminense on Wednesday night (April 1), at 9:30 p.m. (Brasília time), at the Maracanã, in a match valid for the 9th round of the Brazilian Championship. The opposing team comes into the clash with a chance to reach the top of the table.

Fluminense enter Wednesday’s match in 4th place in the Brasileirão, with five wins, one draw, and two losses in eight rounds played, totaling 16 points, three fewer than Palmeiras, who currently lead the league with 19 points.

Photo: Lucas Merçon / Fluminense

The Rio-based side come into the match with a short list of absences. Confirmed out for Fluminense are: Matheus Reis (knee surgery), Nonato (sprained right ankle), and Bernal (transitioning after a partial posterior cruciate ligament injury in his right knee), as well as Uruguayan forward Agustín Canobbio, who returns from the international break with the Uruguay national team and will not have enough time to be fit for the game.

With that, a possible starting lineup from coach Luis Zubeldía is: Fábio; Samuel Xavier, Jemmes, Freytes, Renê; Martinelli, Hércules and Lucho Acosta; Savarino (Soteldo), Serna and John Kennedy (Rodrigo Castillo).

Corinthians’ opponent is coming off a 1-0 win over Atlético-MG, also at the Maracanã. In their last five matches, the Rio team has three wins (against Athletico-PR and Remo, in addition to the Minas Gerais club), one loss (to Vasco), and one draw (against Flamengo).

Former Team Rule

The matchup later today has only one candidate for the Former Team Rule: left-back Guilherme Arana, who joined Fluminense at the start of this season.

Developed in Corinthians’ youth academy, Guilherme Arana rose to prominence after standing out in the team’s runner-up campaign in the Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior. His strong performances caught the attention of Mano Menezes, who promoted the left-back to the professional squad at a very young age. At just 16 years old, upon joining the first team, Arana said his reference was then-starter Fábio Santos.

In 2015, the player was loaned to Atlético-PR, but returned to the club shortly afterward at Tite’s request, especially after Fábio Santos left for Cruz Azul. Back with the squad, Arana scored his first professional goal against Palmeiras at age 18 and was part of the Brazilian Championship title-winning team.

The big leap in his career came in 2017, under Fábio Carille. That year, the full-back established himself as an undisputed starter and was one of the team’s standout players in their Brasileirão and Paulista title wins, which ultimately led to his transfer to Sevilla in Spain.

In his first season in European football, Arana struggled to adapt and made only three appearances. However, from the 2018/19 season onward, he began to get more opportunities, even starting some matches.

At the beginning of 2019, his name was once again linked with Corinthians, with negotiations that even advanced. Despite that, the high figures involved and disagreements over the payment structure prevented the player’s return to the club from Parque São Jorge, leading him to join Atalanta of Italy.

After six months on loan at the Italian club, Arana secured another loan move, this time to Atlético-MG, in January 2020. At Galo, the left-back established himself and was signed permanently the following year, helping the team win the Copa do Brasil and the Brazilian Championship.

After six seasons at the club, with six straight Campeonato Mineiro titles, the player completed a permanent move to Fluminense in January of this year. With the Rio team, he already has 13 appearances and one goal.

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