Yuri Alberto set for homecoming at Vila in Corinthians v Bahia | OneFootball

This Wednesday, Corinthians faces Bahia in the first round of the Brazilian Championship, starting at 8 PM (Brasília time), at Vila Belmiro. Forward Yuri Alberto, who was developed by Santos, anticipated returning to the stadium as the home team and spoke about the importance of starting with a good result.

“It’s a place (Vila Belmiro) where it all began, a place I really enjoy playing. Every time we go there, I either score or assist a goal. God willing, tomorrow will be the same. We are going into the game very prepared and confident after an important away victory. We know it will be a very tough game, but we also know the importance of starting well in the Brazilian Championship,” the player told Corinthians TV.

Why at Vila?

Corinthians made an agreement with Santos to use Vila Belmiro. The team chose to bring forward their debut in the Brasileirão to have the same three days of preparation as Flamengo for the Supercopa do Brasil, which takes place on Sunday.

The team could not play in São Paulo city, as it is already hosting the match between São Paulo and Flamengo, at Morumbi. The solution, therefore, was to hold the match in another municipality. The club considered Bragança Paulista but decided to play at Vila for two reasons: stadium capacity and proximity.

Memphis returns

Dorival will have a new addition for the match: Memphis Depay. The Dutch forward has been listed for the game and could make his season debut.

The player, who played through injury in last year’s Copa do Brasil final, was undergoing a process of muscular rebalancing. He is expected to start on the bench and may gain minutes in the second half, already eyeing the Supercopa do Brasil against Flamengo on Sunday.

On the other hand, José Martínez remains in Venezuela for the reissuance of his passport and will miss the game, while Cacá, in physical transition, is still expected to be out.

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How is Corinthians doing?

Corinthians returned to winning ways last Sunday, ending a three-game winless streak. The team defeated Velo Clube 1-0 in Rio Claro, with a goal from Yuri Alberto, climbing to fourth place in the Paulista Championship standings, with eight points.

The team is aiming for a better campaign in the Brasileirão compared to last year. The team finished last season’s tournament in a disappointing 13th place, with 47 points – 12 wins, 11 draws, and 15 losses.

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