Pedro Raul eyes Corinthians reset amid attacking absences for Paulistão opener | OneFootball

Corinthians begin their 2026 Paulistão on Sunday at 16:00, hosting Ponte Preta at Neo Química Arena. Dorival Júnior is not expected to have his leading forwards, which could reopen a route for Pedro Raul.

According to Meu Timao, Memphis Depay is on an individual programme at the training centre for muscle rebalancing after playing through pain late last season, when the club won the Copa do Brasil. Yuri Alberto is in Italy finalising European passport paperwork and has yet to rejoin.

Those absences could give Pedro Raul early minutes to convince the staff. In 2025 he began the state campaign as a starter under Ramón Díaz’s rotation and hit the 2-1 winner at Red Bull Bragantino’s Estádio Nabi Abi Chedid in the opener.

He later lost ground in the first phase and was loaned to Ceará for the rest of the year. Despite the club’s relegation to Série B, he delivered key moments, notably the goal that secured the Campeonato Cearense title against Fortaleza in a 1-1 second leg.

He ended 2025 with 18 goals in 51 matches across Ceará and Corinthians. Only Yuri Alberto scored more for the club that year, with 19.

Dorival has also lost two attackers from 2025. Talles Magno, on loan from New York City in the United States, and Ángel Romero did not renew contracts that expired on 31 December 2025 and have left.

Source: Meu Timao