The quarter-final stage of the 2023 Copa Sudamericana will begin on Tuesday when Corinthians host Estudiantes at Corinthians Arena in the first-ever competitive meeting between both clubs.
Timao held Newell’s Old Boys off the scoresheet in the second leg of that round of 16 tie, advancing 2-1 on aggregate, while the Argentines had no trouble getting past Goias, winning 2-0 in that return engagement and eliminating the Brasileiro Serie A side 5-0 on aggregate.
Coming into their second-leg tie versus Newell’s with a one-goal lead, Corinthians appeared to be squarely focused on maintaining that narrow advantage instead of adding to it, conceding 11 shots on target to the club from Rosario.
Ultimately, the passive approach from Vanderlei Luxemburgo’s men worked as they advanced into the last eight of this competition for the first time since 2019.
Their 2-1 victory in the opening leg of that tie was the first time this club had ever beaten a side from Argentina at the Sudamericana within 90 minutes, and they will enter this contest unbeaten in six successive home matches in all competitions, having won five straight encounters at Corinthians Arena.
The club based in Sao Paulo have never lost a home fixture in the knockout stage of this tournament, while they have only suffered one defeat in normal time in their previous 12 matches played in this competition from the round of 16 and beyond.
The last time Time do Povo were in the last eight of this competition in 2014, they squeaked past fellow Brazilian side Fluminense on away goals, drawing both matches 0-0 and 1-1 respectively.
Corinthians have started the majority of their games this month poorly, trailing at the half in three successive competitive affairs, though they have reacted well to those deficits at home, coming back to win their last two matches played in all competitions at Corinthians Arena despite being behind at the interval.
Estudiantes had no trouble getting into the last eight, advancing to this stage of the Sudamericana for the first time since 2014.
Eduardo Dominguez has built a stingy defensive unit, who have often looked impenetrable throughout this competition, conceding just three goals in 10 Sudamericana matches played this year.
They have only conceded in one away game at the 2023 Sudamericana and have only allowed one opening-half goal in their last seven competitive fixtures.
Their defensive work may have got them into the last eight but their quality in the attacking third on the road has been extremely sharp, with Estudiantes winning three successive matches in all competitions as the visitors, scoring a combined six goals in those triumphs.
Los Pincharratas have won their last seven matches in all competitions when scoring the opening goal, posting a clean sheet in each Sudamericana fixture this season in which they have drawn first blood.
El Leon have not won a quarter-final fixture at this tournament since a 2-0 triumph over Brazilian side Botafogo in the opening leg of that 2008 tie, while they lost both matches to Boca Juniors in their previous last eight appearance in 2014.
Corinthians could be missing Fagner for this opening encounter as he is not expected to return from a calf injury until early September.
From leg one to leg two in the last 16, Luxemburgo made four changes to his starting 11, bringing in Caetano, Gil, Fausto Vera and Wesley into the fold in place of Fagner, Murillo, Matheus Araujo and Guilherme Biro.
Goals from Wesley and Yuri Alberto in the opening match versus Newell’s ultimately made the difference in their round of 16 clash, with Cassio stopping 11 shots in the second leg, enabling his side to advance.
Estudiantes are unlikely to have Zaid Romero and Emmanuel Mas available until early September because of ankle issues, while Guido Carrillo and Matias Godoy are expected to return around that same time from muscle injuries.
Benjamin Rollheiser had three goals in their round of 16 tie, including a brace in the opening leg, while Mariano Andujar only had to make one save in each of those encounters for a clean sheet.
Mauro Boselli had the only goal when they lost their opening match in the second phase of the Argentine Primera Division, 2-1 at Belgrano.
Corinthians possible starting lineup:
Cassio; Mendez, Gil, Caetano, Santos; Giuliano, Maycon, Oliveira; Adson, Alberto, Romero
Estudiantes possible starting lineup:
Andujar; Noguera, Lollo, Fernandez; Godoy, Veron, Rodriguez, Ascacibar, Benedetti; Rollheiser; Mendez
We say: Corinthians 1-0 Estudiantes
Both sides are in relatively good form at the moment, but ultimately, we expect home field and the recent experience of Corinthians in these big South American competitions will give them a slight edge.
