Corinthians beats Athletico and is close to a direct spot at Libertadores

Coach Sylvinho’s Corinthians has distinguished performances in the second round of the Brazilian Championship. Away from home, the team has suffered from the lack of offensiveness and has already suffered eight matches without a victory. As home team, the team has been showing good football and has eight consecutive triumphs.

This Sunday (28), the team from Alvinegra extended its invincibility at the Neo Química Arena by beating Athletico by 1-0, in front of 37 thousand fans in the stands.

The victory leaves the São Paulo club close to qualifying directly for next year’s Copa Libertadores. The team reached 56 points and remains in fourth place — the five best placed guarantee a spot in the group stage of the international tournament.

Coach Sylvinho, who has been widely criticized for the team’s performance, gains breath for the final stretch of the Nacional. With the arrival of important reinforcements throughout the Brazilian Nationals, Corinthians began to regard qualifying for the Libertadores as an obligation.

Against Athletico, Corinthians suffered from the strong marking of the opposing team and did not have the same intensity as the derby against Santos, on the 21st, the last match in their stadium before this Sunday’s clash.

Throughout the first half, the club alvinegro only had one clear opportunity to score, in a low shot by Jô, who hit the post after a good pass by Renato Augusto.

Despite the lack of creativity, the game control was all Corinthians. In the first half, there were 12 submissions by Sylvinho’s team, against only 3 by the opponent, according to the statistics website Footstats. Ball possession was 59% against 40% in favor of the home team.

In the second half, the entry of William gave more speed to the offensive sector, and Corinthians reached the goal in a controversial penalty converted by Fábio Santos, in the 19th minute. Referee Paulo Cesar Zanovelli saw a hand touch from Marcinho, who gave a cart inside the area. The judge was not called by the VAR, and the decision was hotly contested by Athletico players.

In advantage, Corinthians only managed the score that indirectly helped their rival São Paulo. The tricolor team won Sport this Saturday (27) and moved away from the Athletico table, which remains with 41 points, in 15th place.

The team from Paraná, champion of the Copa Sudamericana and finalist of the Copa do Brasil, is at risk of relegation. The team will face Cuiabá, Palmeiras and Sport — the matches will take place on December 3, 6 and 9, respectively.

Corinthians’ next match at the Brazilian Nationals is against Grêmio, on Sunday (5), also at Neo Química Arena. The team from Rio Grande do Sul will face São Paulo on Thursday (2) and could reach the match against the club from Parque São Jorge already relegated.

Afterwards, Corinthians ends its participation in the championship on the 9th against Juventude, who are also fighting relegation.