Corinthians is set to take on Racing at 7 PM (Brasilia time) in the fifth round of the Sudamericana group stage. Currently in third place in their group, a victory at the Centenario Stadium in Montevideo would allow Corinthians to leapfrog América de Cali.
Despite the significance of the match, coach Dorival Júnior has made several changes to the lineup, opting for a nearly alternate squad for this crucial continental clash. Of the players who started previous matches, only Hugo Souza, André Ramalho, and Romero have retained their positions in the lineup. The team has also been impacted by injuries, with Memphis sidelined due to an ankle sprain, Gustavo Henrique recovering from hernia surgery, and Rodrigo Garro undergoing treatment for patellar tendinopathy in his right knee.
Additionally, Félix Torres is serving a suspension after being sent off in the previous encounter against Racing, where Corinthians won 1-0. João Pedro Tchoca will have his first opportunity to play under Dorival Júnior in this match.
The Corinthians lineup includes: Hugo Souza; Léo Maná, André Ramalho, João Pedro Tchoca, and Matheus Bidu; Ryan, Alex Santana, and Charles; along with Romero, Talles Magno, and Héctor Hernández.
For this game, Racing will field the following players: Amadé; Cotugno, Gaston Bueno, Pinela, Martín Ferreira; Thiago Espinosa, Lucas Rodríguez, and Mateo Cácerez; Alejandro Severo, Tomatis, and Matías Fonseca.
The match carries a decisive weight for the alvinegro as they look to secure advancement into the next phase of the tournament. Corinthians has had an inconsistent campaign so far, sitting third in Group C behind Huracán, who leads the group, and América de Cali. The team trails the Colombians by two points and is six points behind the Argentinians.
In order to keep their title hopes alive in the Sudamericana, Corinthians needs to progress from the group stage; only the group winner will qualify directly for the round of 16, while the second-placed team will enter a playoff against a team eliminated from the Libertadores group stage.
This match represents a pivotal moment for Corinthians as they strive for continuity in their pursuit of continental glory.