What Corinthians need to do to qualify on final Brasileirão U20 day | OneFootball

Corinthians could qualify for the knockout stage of the Brazilian Under-20 Championship again for the first time since 2023, after fighting near the bottom of the national competition table over the last two years. On the afternoon of last Thursday (25), Alvinegro hosted Flamengo at Alfredo Schürig Stadium, Fazendinha, and drew 2-2. Timãozinho’s goals were scored by center-back Yago Melo and forward Nicolas Araújo.

Although they dropped two places after the draw against the Rio side, Corinthians remained in the Brasileirão U-20 qualification zone, sitting in eighth place with 29 points — eight wins, five draws and five losses — with 31 goals scored and 24 conceded. The top eight teams advance to the knockout stage. Next Wednesday (1), Alvinegro will face Juventude away from home in the final round of the competition’s opening phase and need at least a draw to advance to the quarterfinals. The team from Rio Grande do Sul is battling relegation and is just one spot above the drop zone.

Photo: Rodrigo Coca/Agência Corinthians

The first team outside the qualification zone is Flamengo, who are in ninth place with 27 points. In the final round, Rubro-Negro will face Avaí at home. A draw does not mathematically guarantee Timão a place in the next stage. That is because Flamengo, who currently have a goal difference of -1, would need to win by eight goals to try to level Alvinegro on goal difference, which is the second tiebreaker.

If Corinthians lose, they could be eliminated in the first phase if Flamengo beat Avaí by any scoreline. Bahia, in tenth place with 26 points and a goal difference of zero, still have remote chances. The northeastern side will face Cruzeiro, who are seventh, in the final round and would need to win by at least seven goals while also hoping Flamengo do not win. For Esquadrão to qualify, the Rio side could earn no more than one point, and Timão, in turn, cannot even draw their match.

Before the decisive round, however, Corinthians will have a derby in the Paulista Under-20 Championship. Next Sunday (28), at 3 pm, Timãozinho will visit Santos in the third round of the state championship’s first phase. Alvinegro won their first two matches, against Mirassol and Portuguesa Santista, by 1-0 and 2-0 respectively.

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