Corinthians face Cruzeiro as Cássio, Fagner and Tite line up against former club | OneFootball

Corinthians visit Cruzeiro at the Mineirão at 20:00 on Wednesday in the Brasileirão’s fourth round, a reunion with modern idols Cássio, Fagner and coach Tite, now on the opposing bench.

Corinthians sit fifth on six points, and victory, allied to slips by Fluminense, Bahia, São Paulo and Palmeiras, could take them top. According to Meu Timao, bottom-placed Cruzeiro have one point and Tite is under pressure.

Fagner left in early 2026 after losing his place in 2024, then spent 2025 on loan at Cruzeiro. A clause barred him from facing Corinthians unless a R$ 1 million fee, which was not paid, so Wednesday is his first meeting since departing. Across two spells he played 578 games and won five trophies.

Tite’s April 2025 return collapsed on 22 April after an anxiety episode, and Corinthians instead hired Dorival Júnior. In December he took over Cruzeiro after Leonardo Jardim’s exit following a Copa do Brasil loss to Corinthians, having earlier managed 378 games for Corinthians and won two Brasileirões, the 2012 Libertadores and Club World Cup, and the 2013 Paulista and Recopa.

Cássio left in March 2024 despite a deal to December, later saying he had battled deep depression, and he lost the shirt to Carlos Miguel after an outburst in Argentina. Signed in 2012 from PSV Eindhoven, he made 712 appearances, won nine trophies, sits second for club games and holds a record 32 penalty saves. Since leaving he has faced Corinthians four times, was honoured on his Arena return, and most recently lost a 5-4 shootout to Hugo Souza as Corinthians advanced to a Copa do Brasil final they won.

Source: Meu Timao