Needing a win to avoid being knocked out of a second successive Copa do Brasil semi-final, Corinthians will host Flamengo in leg two of that tie on Sunday at Arena Corinthians.
A goal just beyond the half-hour mark in leg one was all Flamengo would need to claim a 1-0 triumph heading to Sao Paulo for this decisive contest.
Match preview
© Imago
For a second successive round at this tournament, Corinthians find themselves behind heading into a return engagement, seeking to keep their Copa do Brasil hopes alive.
It may not be the best position to be in, but it is one Timao are familiar with, coming back to win their last five ties in this competition when trailing after leg one.
Ramon Diaz's men are unbeaten at home in the tournament this year and have not lost a competitive game at Arena Corinthians since early June (1-0 versus Botafogo).
Finding the back of the net in this tournament has been difficult, with Todo Poderoso failing to score in over half (3/5) of their Copa do Brasil knockout fixtures this year.
That defeat in the opening leg is the only time in their last 11 matches across all competitions that they were held off the scoresheet.
They are unbeaten in their last two Copa do Brasil semi-final home fixtures, winning 2-1 at home to Sao Paulo in this phase last year and defeating Fluminense 3-0 in 2022.
© Imago
Flamengo are a step away from making a third successive Copa do Brasil final, maintaining their 100% record at home in this tournament.
Only once in the competition this year have they conceded a goal, and it came in Sao Paulo against Palmeiras in the round of 16, when they lost 1-0 but advanced from that tie 2-1 on aggregate.
The club from Rio have won five consecutive semi-final matches in this competition, with their last defeat at this stage coming in October 2021 versus Athletico Paranaense (3-0).
Filipe Luis lost his first match in charge of this team over the weekend as they suffered a 2-0 domestic defeat at home to Fluminense.
Away from home, Urubu are unbeaten in their last two competitive fixtures as the visitors, failing to concede in either of those outings.
Mengao are winless in their last three meetings away from home versus Corinthians, with their last road victory against them occurring in the 2022 Copa Libertadores quarter-finals (2-0).
Team News
© Imago
An ACL injury will likely keep Ruan Oliveira on the sidelines for Corinthians on Sunday, Diego Palacios is dealing with a sore knee, while Ryan hurt his ankle in leg one and is questionable for this encounter.
From their second-leg quarter-final tie to the opening leg of this round, Timao added five new faces to their starting 11, including Felix Torres, Hugo, Ryan, Igor Coronado and Hector Hernandez.
In the opening leg of this tie, Flamengo were without Pedro due to a cruciate ligament tear, Luiz Araujo and Matias Vina are recovering from knee injuries, while Everton ruptured his Achilles in August and will not return any time soon.
Alex Sandro had the lone goal in the first leg of this tie, as Agustin Rossi only had to make two stops to collect a clean sheet.
Corinthians possible starting lineup:
Souza; Fagner, Ramalho, G. Henrique, Hugo; Charles, Martinez, Coronado; Garro, Romero; Depay
Flamengo possible starting lineup:
Rossi; Franca, Ortiz, Pereira, Sandro; Pulgar, Alcaraz; Gerson, De Arraecaeta, B. Henrique; Barbosa
We say: Corinthians 1-1 Flamengo (Flamengo advance 2-1 on aggregate)
Corinthians rarely seem to go down without a fight in these tournaments, but Flamengo have got the job done so often at this stage that it is hard to overlook or believe that this tie can be reversed.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
