Corinthians make second-half dominance count, beat São Paulo in Itaquera | OneFootball

By Fabio Luigi / Central do Timão Editorial Team

Early on Sunday evening (10), Corinthians hosted São Paulo at Neo Química Arena in a match valid for the 15th round of the 2026 Brazilian Championship and won 3-2. Alvinegro’s goals were scored by Raniele, Matheuzinho, and Breno Bidon. With the result, Corinthians move up to 16th place with 18 points — four wins, six draws, and five losses — with 13 goals scored and 15 conceded.

The Corinthians coaching staff could not count on the following players for the match: center-back João Pedro Tchoca (inguinal hernia surgery), left-back Hugo Farias (recovering from right knee surgery), defensive midfielders Allan (suspended), Charles (pain in his right heel), and André Luiz (STJD punishment), as well as forwards Kayke (ACL surgery), Vitinho (hip pain), and Memphis Depay (physical transition after a muscle injury).

Photo: Rodrigo Coca/Agência Corinthians

With that, coach Fernando Diniz sent out the following lineup to start the match: Hugo Souza; Matheuzinho, Gabriel Paulista, Gustavo Henrique and Matheus Bidu; Raniele, André Carrillo (Dieguinho), Breno Bidon and Rodrigo Garro; Jesse Lingard and Yuri Alberto.

The bench options were: Kauê Camargo, Pedro Milans, Fabrizio Angileri, André Ramalho, Iago Machado, Alex Santana, Matheus Pereira, Dieguinho, Zakaria Labyad, Pedro Raul, Kaio César and Gui Negão.

São Paulo lineup

Coach Roger Machado chose to start with: Rafael, Cédric, Dória, Sabino and Enzo Díaz; Damían Bobadilla, Danielzinho and Luciano; Artur, Ferreira and Jonathan Calleri.

The substitutes were: Coronel, Igor Felisberto, Osório, Wendell, Luan, Negrucci, Djhordney, Cauly, P.Ferreira, Lucca, Tapia and André Silva.

Officiating

The referee was Anderson Daronco (RS), assisted by Rafael da Silva Alves and Maira Mastella Moreira, both also from Rio Grande do Sul. The fourth official and the VAR were, respectively,  Jonathan Benkenstein Pinheiro (PR) and Rodolpho Toski Marques (PR)

Next match

After facing São Paulo in the Brasileirão in Itaquera, Corinthians now turn their attention to the Copa do Brasil. That is because next Thursday (14), at 7:30 p.m., Alvinegro host Barra-SC at Neo Química Arena for the second leg of the fifth round of the national knockout tournament. In the first leg, Timão won 1-0 at Ressacada, with a goal from Jesse Lingard.

First half

The opening minutes of the match between Corinthians and São Paulo saw the home side spending time in the attacking half down the left and keeping possession from midfield back. After one minute, Gustavo Henrique made a mistake playing out from the back, São Paulo won the ball through Luciano, but Ferreirinha could not continue the promising move.

In the second minute, São Paulo built an attack down the right with Arthur and Cédric, who crossed, but Gabriel Paulista cleared it. On the next play, Matheuzinho won the ball back in his own half, surged forward, and combined with Yuri Alberto. The No. 9 sent in a low cross, the ball went past everyone and fell to Jesse Lingard on the left. No. 77 struck firmly, but goalkeeper Rafael made the save!

In the fifth minute, São Paulo launched another counterattack. Arthur, wide on the left, played Ferreirinha through on the right. No. 77 went one-on-one with Gabriel Paulista, cut onto his right foot, and shot near the top corner, but Hugo Souza made a great save! After seven minutes, the match was balanced, with the visitors looking dangerous mainly on counterattacks.

Timão, in turn, created danger but were not as accurate with their finishing. In the eighth minute, in a move down the left, Lingard found Yuri Alberto in the box. No. 9, however, finished poorly and over São Paulo’s goal. Shortly after, Cédric sent Arthur through down the right, in behind Matheus Bidu. No. 37 was about to go clear on goal, but Gabriel Paulista arrived strongly in cover and the ball ended up with Hugo Souza, who restarted play for Alvinegro.

In the 12th minute, Corinthians built from midfield. Matheuzinho switched it to Garro, who cut inside and found Carrillo. No. 19 passed to Lingard on the end line on the right. No. 77 crossed to Gustavo Henrique’s head and, from the loose ball, Rodrigo Garro had his shot blocked by center-back Sabino.

Right after that, Corinthians put together another move, this time down the right, and André Carrillo tried to cross twice. On the second attempt, however, the ball ricocheted off the Peruvian and went out for a goal kick. In the 15th minute, Rodrigo Garro sent Yuri through and Dória cleared it for a corner. Then São Paulo tried to counter from the clearance after the No. 8’s corner, but Gabriel Paulista won the ball back on the right.

A minute later, Bidu switched play from right to left, the ball went past everyone and fell to Gabriel Paulista. No. 3 crossed and Rodrigo Garro’s shot took a deflection. Shortly after, from a corner, Corinthians scored the opener! The Argentine delivered it to the near post and Raniele rose to head it home for Timão!

In the 20th minute, Corinthians nearly got the second! Gustavo Henrique combined with Matheus Bidu on the left. No. 21 spotted Garro, who played it first time to Yuri Alberto. One-on-one with Rafael, No. 9 shot straight at the São Paulo keeper. Right after, Timão won a free kick near the edge of the box. Garro sent it toward Gustavo Henrique, who laid it off for Raniele, whose bicycle kick went wide!

On the next play, Calleri received a through ball down the right and was blocked by Gabriel Paulista! From the ensuing action, Hugo Souza came off his line and punched it clear. In the 24th minute, Sabino sent Ferrerinha through on the right and Matheuzinho got across to clear! Two minutes later, Matheus Bidu intercepted a through ball intended for Calleri and started a good move.

No. 21 passed to Garro, who immediately found Yuri Alberto. No. 9 went one-on-one with Sabino, but was dispossessed. Shortly before, Timão had tried to break with Jesse Lingard, but he was stopped by the São Paulo defense as he was isolated up front. With almost 30 minutes gone in the first half, Corinthians were controlling the game after a dangerous start from São Paulo.

In the 31st minute, Gabriel Paulista fouled Calleri in midfield. From the set piece, the ball ended up in Hugo Souza’s hands. Soon after, Corinthians responded with a good attacking move. Breno Bidon received it in midfield and lofted it over to Yuri Alberto. No. 9 attempted a bicycle kick, without much power, and the ball stayed in Rafael’s hands.

In the 33rd minute, São Paulo pressed higher. Gabriel Paulista played it back to Hugo Souza. No. 1 found André Carrillo, who calmly played his way out. Three minutes later, Alvinegro won the ball back in the attacking half — Lingard stole it from Arthur, Carrillo found Garro. No. 8 spotted Yuri Alberto making a run. No. 9, however, was beaten in the race by Dória.

Right after, Breno Bidon lost the ball in the buildup and Matheus Bidu blocked the São Paulo player on the end line. From the corner, Gustavo Henrique cleared it. In the 42nd minute, Hugo Souza played short to Raniele. The midfielder made a mistake playing out, Bobadilla won it and passed to Luciano to score. After the goal, a scuffle broke out and several yellow cards were shown.

When the clock hit 45 minutes, the game was still stopped and only resumed at 53. Seven minutes were added. After play restarted, Corinthians once again pushed forward more often. Matheus Bidu was found on the end line down the left, but the ball ended up going out for a goal kick.

In the 60th minute, Alvinegro attacked down the right with Matheuzinho. No. 2 crossed to Rodrigo Garro, who handled the ball while controlling it and Daronco awarded a free kick. Shortly after, the first half ended. Score: Corinthians 1-1 São Paulo.

Timão were the better side for most of the first half, but after an individual mistake playing out from the back, São Paulo equalized through Luciano.

Second half

To start the second half, coach Fernando Diniz made no changes. The opening minutes of the second period saw Corinthians pushing into the attacking half and enjoying more possession. Right in the first minute, Timão built from the back through Gustavo Henrique, André Carrillo, and Matheus Bidu.

No. 21 found Jesse Lingard, who cut from left to right and crossed to Yuri Alberto, whose header went over Rafael’s goal! In the fifth minute, Jesse Lingard combined well down the left with Matheus Bidu, No. 77 crossed, and São Paulo’s defense cleared. On the next play came Corinthians’ second goal! And what a goal it was!

In the sixth minute, Corinthians built the move from their own half. Gabriel Paulista found Carrillo, who played a one-two with Matheuzinho. No. 2 drove to the end line, sat Ferreirinha down, and scored a beauty for Timão!  After going back in front, the club from Parque São Jorge kept control of the match.

Right after that, Timão scored their third! From another move built from the back, Gustavo Henrique found Matheus Bidu, who cut inside toward Rodrigo Garro. No. 8 carried it toward the box, Breno Bidon received it and, with his left foot, placed it into Rafael’s corner! After extending their lead again, São Paulo offered little threat to the Corinthians side. The rival side did create danger with an attack down the left after a low shot across goal, but the Corinthians defense cleared it.

São Paulo tried to apply pressure in the attacking half and, after a corner, Hugo Souza came off his line punching, and from the rebound Enzo Díaz smashed the ball against Gustavo Henrique’s head. In the 20th minute, the Morumbi side had another attacking move and Hugo Souza parried a shot across goal. On the rebound, Cédric hit the Corinthians defense. From the restart, Timão’s defense cleared.

In the following minute, Yuri Alberto picked up the ball in midfield and passed to Matheuzinho on the right. No. 2 went through one-on-one with Rafael and shot into the São Paulo defense, with the ball going out for a corner. From the set piece, the danger was cleared. In the 23rd minute, Timão pressed São Paulo’s buildup and won the ball through Bidon and Yuri Alberto, but failed to make the most of it.

In the 27th minute, Yuri Alberto received a through ball on the right and was fouled by center-back Dória. Then No. 7 battled for the ball with Enzo Díaz in midfield on the right and was shoved by No. 13, who was shown a yellow card. In the 30th minute, São Paulo won a corner on the right and, from the delivery, Arthur sent it to the near post, Raniele headed it backward, but Daronco gave a goal kick.

In the 33rd minute, Timão had a good move on the end line down the left with Matheus Bidu, who received it and spotted Lingard near the edge of the box. No. 77 controlled it and shot over Rafael. Three minutes later came Corinthians’ first change: midfielder André Carrillo left the pitch and Dieguinho came on.

In the 39th minute, Yuri Alberto received it in midfield and shot over Rafael’s goal. Cries of “Olé” echoed in the stands. Right after, Corinthians made their second and third changes: playmaker Rodrigo Garro left the pitch for Zakaria Labyad. Yuri Alberto went off for striker Pedro Raul.

In the 42nd minute, São Paulo scored their second. Danielzinho took a corner from the left and Matheuzinho turned it into his own net. Score: Corinthians 3-2 São Paulo. When the clock reached 45 minutes, another six were added. In the final minutes, Timão simply managed the lead. In the last play, Hugo Souza saved a dangerous shot from André Silva.

At the 51st minute, full-time: Corinthians 3-2 São Paulo.

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