Key in 1995, Marcelinho backs Corinthians to win the Copa do Brasil | OneFootball

Corinthians is in the race for the Copa do Brasil title. And the club idol, Marcelinho Carioca, champion of the tournament in 1995, believes that Timão has “every chance” of lifting the trophy for the fourth time in 2025.

Having qualified for the semifinals, the team from Parque São Jorge will face Cruzeiro for a spot in this year’s grand final. Although the matchup is tough, Marcelinho said in an exclusive interview with Gazeta Esportiva that Corinthians has a high chance of becoming champions.

“I think they have every chance to win. It’s a knockout competition, so sometimes you can play badly in one game and recover in the second. Corinthians is very strong in knockouts, so they have great chances. If they decide the match at home, especially, Corinthians’ chances increase a lot,” replied the former player.

Decisive in 1995

Marcelinho Carioca was one of the protagonists of the 1995 Copa do Brasil title. This was the first time Corinthians won the competition.

After getting past Operário VG, Rio Branco, Paraná, and Vasco in the earlier rounds, Timão faced Grêmio in the final. In the first leg, at home, the São Paulo team won 2-1, with goals from Viola and Marcelinho. In the return leg, they won 1-0, with another goal from the “Angel Foot.”

(Photo: Reproduction/Corinthians)

Clash with Cruzeiro

The dates for the matchup between Corinthians and Cruzeiro, currently second in the Brasileirão, for this year’s Copa do Brasil semifinal, have not yet been set by the CBF. The matches, however, will only take place in December, after the end of the national league.

It is also not yet known who will play the decisive match at home. Home advantage will be decided by a draw, with no date announced yet.

Perfect campaign

Corinthians boasts a ‘perfect’ campaign in the current edition of the Copa do Brasil. They have six wins in six matches, eliminating Novorizontino, Palmeiras, and Athletico-PR along the way.

Moreover, in the competition, Dorival Júnior’s team has not conceded a single goal and has scored eight times.

Marcelinho’s numbers for Corinthians

Considered one of the greatest idols in Corinthians’ history, Marcelinho Carioca has impressive numbers for the black-and-white club.

In total, he scored 206 goals in 433 matches wearing the Timão jersey, making him the fifth highest scorer in the club’s history. In addition to the 1995 Copa do Brasil, he won nine other titles, including the 1998 and 1999 Brasileirão and the 2000 FIFA Club World Cup.

Corinthians’ next match

Standings

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