Memphis debuts for Corinthians as Brasileirão kicks off

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Central do Timão

·29 gennaio 2026

Memphis debuts for Corinthians as Brasileirão kicks off

By Fabio Luigi / Central do Timão Editorial Team

On the night of this Wednesday (28), Corinthians faced Bahia at Vila Belmiro for the first round of the 2026 Brazilian Championship and ended up being defeated, with a comeback, by a score of 2 x 1. The Alvinegro goal was scored by midfielder Breno Bidon. The result leaves the Corinthians team in the lower part of the table – 15th position.

The setback marked Memphis Depay's first match for Corinthians in 2026. It is worth remembering that during the first weeks of the year, the number 10 worked on improvement and physical reconditioning inside the Dr. Joaquim Grava Training Center and, since last week, had been training with the team on the field.

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Photo: Rodrigo Coca/Agência Corinthians

Memphis Depay had finished the last season at the 'physical limit' and was preserved from the first rounds of the Paulista Championship. The forward is expected to start in the match next Sunday (1), against Flamengo, at Mané Garrincha, in Brasília, for the final of the Brazilian Super Cup. On this night, the Dutchman started the match against Bahia as a starter and played for 63 minutes until he was replaced by midfielder Vitinho.

According to Sofascore, a sports statistics app, he accumulated the following numbers against the northeastern team: one shot on goal, one big chance missed, two key passes, 21/29 accurate passes (72%), 42 actions with the ball, 1/3 successful dribbles, one foul suffered, one ball recovery, and 2/7 ground duels won. His rating on the app was 6.6.

Signed by Corinthians in September 2024, after not renewing his contract with Atlético de Madrid, Spain, Memphis Depay was crucial in the team's rise in the 2024 Brasileirão (from the Z4 to the Pré-Libertadores), besides being a protagonist in the victories of the Paulista Championship and the Brazilian Cup in 2025, against Palmeiras – decisive with assists in the classics – and Vasco da Gama – scored the goal in the second leg of the final, respectively.

In total, there are 19 goals scored and 14 assists in 66 games (52 as a starter) for the club. Moreover, it was the first match of the GYM trio (Garro, Yuri Alberto, and Memphis Depay) together as starters this season. The three had not played together since December 21, in the Brazilian Cup final, against Vasco da Gama, at Maracanã.

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