Coritiba vs Corinthians – News and Probable Lineups

Coritiba will welcome Corinthians to Couto Pereira on Sunday as they clash in the 24th round of the Brazilian Championship, with only a point between the two teams in the current table.

Coxa is eager to put an end to a lengthy streak of over ten years without a home win against these opponents, while the visitors come to Curitiba after reaching the quarter-finals of the Copa Libertadores but will need to cope with a busy schedule.

Match overview

Coritiba finds themselves in 10th place in the Brazilian Championship, having accrued 31 points over 23 matches, seeking more consistency to establish themselves firmly in the mid-table.

Coxa managed to secure a 1-1 draw against Sao Paulo in their last league match, which halted a challenging phase of just one win in their past five fixtures. They now return to Couto Pereira, hoping to regain the home form that allowed them to ascend the rankings earlier in the season.

Their recent home performances have been inconsistent, featuring a 2-1 victory over Chapecoense but then falling to defeats against Cruzeiro and Palmeiras, demonstrating the pressing need to convert their home advantage into points more reliably.

There is also a significant mental barrier to conquer on Sunday, as the hosts have not prevailed against Corinthians at Couto Pereira since 2011. However, they can find solace in their previous encounter this season, where they earned an impressive 2-0 win at Neo Quimica Arena.

On the other hand, Corinthians are in ninth place with 32 points and will view Sunday’s match as a chance to close in on the teams vying for continental qualification.

Fernando Diniz’s squad arrives in high spirits following their 1-0 victory over Rosario Central on Thursday, which secured their spot in the Copa Libertadores quarter-finals.

This win was a much-needed rebound following a setback against Cruzeiro, ensuring that Corinthians remain competitive in the latter stages of South America’s premier club tournament.

However, fatigue is a major concern ahead of their journey to Curitiba, as the players have had less than 48 hours to recover from their Libertadores commitments before facing this league match, presenting Diniz with tough decisions regarding player selection and rotation.

The historical record also favors the visitors, with Corinthians having won 27 of the 52 previous competitive encounters, while Coritiba has emerged victorious 14 times and the two sides have drawn 11 times.

Nevertheless, Coritiba has shown this season that they can present a challenge to Corinthians, and their ability to exploit gaps during transitions may be vital, particularly if the visitors’ stamina wanes after their midweek exertions.

Team News

Coritiba faces several significant absences. Right-back Tinga is still out due to a left thigh injury, and Pedro Rangel, Lucas Ronier, and Brian Ocampo are also unavailable.

Jacy might be reinstated in the defensive lineup, while midfielder Josue returns after recovering from muscular discomfort and participating in training regularly.

Corinthians will miss Rodrigo Garro, who is suspended due to his third yellow card, and Andre Carrillo is expected to step into the central playmaking role.

The visitors also have a long injury list, with Yuri Alberto, Andre Ramalho, Kayke Ferrari, Zakaria Labyad, and Vitinho all out of action.

Consequently, Memphis Depay is likely to shoulder much of the attacking responsibilities, with his capacity to navigate through the lines being crucial against a Coritiba defense that can struggle against swift counter-attacks.

Coritiba probable starting XI:

Moorish; Chermont, Coser, Jacy, Melo; Santos, Gomez, Joshua; Lavega, Lopes, Rocha

Corinthians probable starting XI:

Souza; Matheuzinho, Paulista, Henrique, Bidu; Raniele, Carrillo, Allan, Bidon; Depay, Cesar

Corinthians’ superior possession control and attacking prowess should enable them to dictate significant portions of the contest, although their demanding fixtures might hinder their ability to perform at full intensity.

This should be a closely contested match; however, the visitors’ individual quality and greater experience in pressurized matches may ultimately be the deciding factors.