On the rise, Corinthians aim to repeat 2024 run for Copa Libertadores spot | OneFootball

The Corinthians is experiencing a moment of ascension this season. Dorival Júnior's team has finally stopped oscillating and has achieved a streak of three consecutive victories in the Brazilian Championship, now aiming for new goals.

Timão took a while to get going under Dorival. Struggling with absences and unable to register new players due to a transfer ban, the team experienced ups and downs and only now managed to secure a positive streak.

In a press conference after the victory over Grêmio last Sunday, Dorival spoke about the team's good moment.

“We played interesting games, sometimes the result doesn't happen and everything is forgotten. The difficulty of the championship is high, we've had several surprises. I think no team can maintain regularity, it's impossible with this sequence, all have had fluctuations. I believe Corinthians has played good games, with rare exceptions,” analyzed the coach.

New Objective

Far from the Z4, Corinthians' goal now is to compete for a spot in the next edition of the Libertadores. The alvinegro team is in tenth place, with 42 points, six below Botafogo, which opens the G6.

The club can also secure qualification via the Copa do Brasil, but to avoid relying on a potential tournament title, it aims to go as far as possible in the Brasileirão.

2024 Streak

On a roll, Corinthians aims to repeat the magical streak of 2024. Threatened by relegation that year, the team then led by Ramón Díaz achieved nine consecutive victories in the final stretch of the Brazilian Championship and not only escaped the drop but also qualified for the preliminary phase of the Libertadores.

There are still seven rounds left for the club to play in the current edition of the tournament. And the upcoming sequence is accessible. Of the next three matches, two will be at Neo Química Arena, against Ceará and São Paulo. The only away game will be against Red Bull Bragantino.

Almost Complete Squad

A decisive factor for Corinthians' surge was the return of important players who had been away from the field, such as midfielder André Carrillo.

Currently, Dorival has the almost complete squad available. The only absentees are Vitinho and André Luiz, who are in the medical department. The latter is already training with the ball and is close to returning.

The alvinegro coach believes this has made the squad “more balanced” and helped the team to get going.

“It's an important fact that I hadn't had since my arrival. The club's medical department provided us with this possibility, having the complete squad at this important part of the season. The results weren't matching what we were presenting, we played good games. I'm happy with the growth we've been having. Today I already see a calmer, more balanced team,” he analyzed.

Next Corinthians Game

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