Corinthians waste chances, lose to Bahia in Brasileirão opener

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Central do Timão

·29 Januari 2026

Corinthians waste chances, lose to Bahia in Brasileirão opener

By Fabio Luigi / Central do Timão Editorial Team

On Wednesday night (28th), Corinthians hosted Bahia at Vila Belmiro for the first round of the 2026 Brazilian Championship and lost 2-1, coming from ahead. The Alvinegro goal was scored by midfielder Breno Bidon at the beginning of the first half. The result leaves the team in 15th place, still without any points.

Dorival Júnior’s coaching staff could not count on defender Cacá (physical transition after an abdominal injury) and midfielder José Martínez (still awaiting the remission of his passport to return to Brazil). Neither has been registered for the Brazilian Championship yet. The defender was recently rumored to be joining Athletico-PR and has lost his place in the squad over the past few months. His contract ends in December 2028.

Video OneFootball

Rafael Rodrigues/EC Bahia

Thus, Corinthians started the match with: Hugo Souza; Matheuzinho, Gabriel Paulista, Gustavo Henrique, and Matheus Bidu; Raniele, André Carrillo (André), Breno Bidon (Gui Negão), and Rodrigo Garro (Vitinho); Memphis Depay (Matheus Pereira), and Yuri Alberto (Pedro Raul). The bench options were: Felipe Longo, André Ramalho, Pedro Milans, Hugo Farias, Matheus Pereira, Charles, Dieguinho, André, Kayke, Vitinho, Pedro Raul, and Gui Negão.

Bahia Lineup

Rogério Ceni’s men started the match with the following formation: Ronaldo, Gilberto, David Duarte, Ramos Mingo, and Luciano Juba; Acevedo, Jean Lucas, and Everton Ribeiro; Ademir, Erick Pulga, and Willian José.

The substitutes were: João Paulo, Kanu, Gabriel Xavier, Roman Gomez, Iago B., Caio Alexandre, Erick, Michel Araújo, Rodrigo Nestor, Kauê Furquim, Kike Oliveira, and Dell.

Refereeing

The referee was Anderson Daronco (RS), assisted by Maira Mastella Moreira (RS) and Michael Stanislau (RS). The fourth official and VAR were Lucas Casagrande (PR) and Paulo Renato Moreira da Silva (RJ), respectively.

Next Match

After facing Bahia at Vila Belmiro for the Brazilian Championship, Corinthians now turns its attention to the Supercopa do Brasil final. Next Sunday (1st), at 4pm (Brasília time), the Alvinegro will face Flamengo at Mané Garrincha Stadium in Brasília. The Parque São Jorge club comes into the final as Copa do Brasil champions, while the Rio team are the reigning Brazilian champions.

First Half

The opening minutes of the match between Corinthians and Bahia saw the northeastern team pressing in attack, mainly down Corinthians’ left defensive side, while the Alvinegro tried to close down spaces. At three minutes, the visitors launched a counterattack and Ademir was played in on the right, but his shot was blocked.

At six minutes, striker Yuri Alberto was sent deep down the right and crossed to Memphis Depay inside the box, but Bahia’s defense cleared the danger. With almost 10 minutes played, Bahia was slightly superior to Corinthians, occupying more of the attacking half and forcing the Alvinegro to be extra alert in defense.

Bahia concentrated possession mainly in midfield, with the ball always passing through Éverton Ribeiro’s feet. Soon after, defender Gabriel Paulista fouled Everton Ribeiro, and on the free kick, Luciano Juba shot low to the corner, but straight at goalkeeper Hugo Souza. At 11 minutes, the first goal for Corinthians! Rodrigo Garro received from Matehuzinho in midfield and played a one-two with Memphis Depay. When he got the ball back from the number 10, the Argentine set up midfielder Breno Bidon right in front of goal, and number 7 simply slotted it past goalkeeper Ronaldo. Score: Corinthians 1 x 0 Bahia!

Four minutes later, almost a second for Corinthians! Matheus Bidu won the ball in defense and spotted Rodrigo Garro alone in midfield. The Argentine received it centrally and played Memphis Depay in on the right. Number 10 passed to the edge of the box, Garro let it run, and the ball fell to Yuri Alberto, who shot wide with only the keeper to beat!

At 18 minutes, Yuri Alberto combined with Rodrigo Garro on the right and Matheuzinho was played in. Number 2 received at the edge of the box, cut inside, and curled a shot at Ronaldo, who parried it away! Six minutes later, Corinthians scored a second with Yuri Alberto after a through ball from Rodrigo Garro, but the goal was disallowed for offside.

Halfway through the first half, after some early struggles marking Bahia, Corinthians began to control the match and adjusted their marking, especially in midfield, which proved decisive for opening the scoring. At 28 minutes, Matheuzinho got to the byline on the right and found Yuri Alberto. Number 9 rolled it to Rodrigo Garro, who shot wide.

Three minutes later, Bahia equalized. Bahia built the play down the right. Full-back Gilberto received from Luciano Juba and laid it off to Jean Lucas, free at the edge of the box, who finished into the top corner with a deflection, beating goalkeeper Hugo Souza. Score: Corinthians 1 x 1 Bahia. The Alvinegro conceded at a moment when they were superior, but a lapse in marking at the edge of the box led to the opponent’s goal.

At 36 minutes, striker Ademir was played in deep on the right and took on defender Gustavo Henrique. As he cut onto his left, number 13 blocked the winger’s shot. Soon after, Matheuzinho was played in at the right byline, cut inside, and had his shot blocked by Bahia’s defense.

At 39, striker Erick Pulga received the ball in midfield after a build-up from the back and shot just wide of Hugo Souza’s left post! A minute later, Yuri Alberto was played in deep again but lost the timing of his shot and was dispossessed. Five minutes later, a penalty was awarded to Bahia.

Éverton Ribeiro received the ball in midfield and passed to Ademir, who got past Gustavo Henrique and shot, forcing a save from Hugo Souza. However, the keeper spilled it and then fouled number 7 for a penalty. On the spot kick, striker William José turned the game around. Score: Corinthians 1 x 2 Bahia. When the clock hit 45 minutes, the referee added five more. At 50, end of the first half: Corinthians 1 x 2 Bahia.

The first 45 minutes were, overall, balanced. After starting the match under pressure from Bahia, Corinthians found their rhythm and created several clear chances, eventually scoring through midfielder Breno Bidon. After missing further chances, the northeastern team leveled the match and completed the turnaround late in the first half with a penalty.

Second Half

To start the second half, coach Dorival Júnior made no changes. Corinthians began the final 45 minutes pressing Bahia in search of an equalizer. In the very first minute, Matheuzinho crossed into the box and the ball fell to Matheus Bidu, whose shot was blocked twice by the defense. On the rebound, Garro also had his shot blocked.

Next, Matheuzinho crossed low, the ball went through everyone and landed at Matheus Bidu’s feet, who shot with a deflection, hitting the side netting! At four minutes, Breno Bidon was fouled by Erick Pulga on the right side of midfield. On the free kick, Memphis Depay delivered, the ball went through everyone, but no one could finish it off.

At seven minutes, Corinthians put together a good passing move through the middle. Yuri Alberto received with his back to goal at the edge of the box and laid it off for Rodrigo Garro to control and shoot hard, forcing Ronaldo to make a save! Ten minutes into the second half, the Alvinegro had more attacking volume than their opponent, but lacked offensive efficiency. Bahia, meanwhile, was just waiting for opportunities to counterattack.

Soon after, Erick Pulga received on the left wing, cut inside, and shot into Hugo Souza’s hands. At 14, Corinthians launched a counterattack from their own half. Memphis Depay received on the left and switched play to Matheuzinho on the right. Number 2 played Yuri Alberto in at the byline and number 9 crossed low into Ronaldo’s hands.

In the next move, Memphis Depay received inside the box and shot with a deflection, but it went wide. On the resulting corner, the ball fell to number 10 inside the box, and Ronaldo made a great save. On the rebound, the midfielder hit the post! At 17, the first three changes for Corinthians: midfielders Matheus Pereira and André, as well as midfielder Vitinho, came on. Departing were Memphis Depay, André Carrillo, and Rodrigo Garro.

Coach Dorival Júnior likely opted to take off Memphis Depay and Rodrigo Garro with an eye on the Supercopa do Brasil final next Sunday (1st) against Flamengo in Brasília. At 22 minutes, Vitinho received the ball on the right wing, miscontrolled it, and it went out for a throw-in. Halfway through the second half, Bahia had yet to threaten Hugo Souza’s goal, mostly just defending.

At 26 minutes, left-back Matheus Bidu got to the byline and crossed low, with a deflection, into goalkeeper Ronaldo’s hands. Five minutes later, the last two changes for Corinthians: forwards Pedro Raul and Gui Negão came on for midfielder Breno Bidon and Yuri Alberto. With the changes, Vitinho took over Breno Bidon’s role, supporting Gui Negão and Pedro Raul in attack.

At 34 minutes, Matheus Pereira played Gui Negão through the middle, the ball fell to Pedro Raul, whose shot was blocked. Three minutes later, Corinthians returned to Bahia’s penalty area. Matheuzinho received on the right and crossed to Gustavo Henrique, who headed weakly into Ronaldo’s hands.

At 38, midfielder Rodrigo Nestor got to the byline, nutmegged André, and had his low cross blocked by Corinthians’ defense. On the corner, the danger was cleared. Four minutes later, Michel Araújo was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for catching Raniele in the face with his arm near the right sideline. When the clock hit 45 minutes, eight more were added.

At 46, Matheus Bidu crossed into the box and Gustavo Henrique headed wide! Shortly after, midfielder Raniele received in midfield and shot over. Three minutes later, Bahia launched a counterattack and Nestor crossed into the box, but Matheuzinho and André cleared the danger. On the counter, Kike Oliveira went one-on-one with Gabriel Paulista, but Hugo Souza made a double save.

At 53, full time. Score: Corinthians 1 x 2 Bahia.

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