Corinthians welcomes Ceará this Saturday, at 8:30 pm (Brasilia time), at Neo Química Arena, for the 36th round of the Brazilian Championship, in Timão’s penultimate game of the year at their home. The São Paulo team is fifth, with 61 points, and is already classified for the 2023 Libertadores group stage. The objective now is, therefore, to fight for the vice-championship.
Vítor Pereira is back on the bench, after serving a suspension against Flamengo, in the last round. The Portuguese, who has not yet defined the future for 2023, continues with embezzlement, but will have the team base at his disposal.
Adson (strain in the left thigh and recovery from surgery on the appendix), Gustavo Mosquito (ligament rupture in the right knee), Júnior Moraes and Maycon (physical reconditioning for 2023), are the absences of Corinthians.
Ceará is on the opposite side of the table. The team is first in the relegation zone, with 34 points, and needs the result to stay alive not falling to Serie B.. And not only that. In addition to winning, Vozão needs to root for the stumbling blocks of opponents. Victories by Coritiba and Cuiabá added to a defeat tonight at the Neo Química Arena relegates Ceará, which still faces Avai and Juventude.
Juca Antonello should promote changes: defender Luiz Otávio returns to the starting lineup after serving suspension. David Ricardo, holder against Fluminense, is kept in the vacancy of Gabriel Lacerda. Geovane takes over from Richardson. In the attack, Jô replaces Cléber, who is suspended.
Analysis
Corinthians is a stronger team when playing at home, as in the last 30 games it has recorded three wins, six draws and six defeats as a visitor; against nine wins, three draws and three defeats as home team. In the last 10 home matches for the championship, Corinthians has recorded seven wins, one draw and two defeats, having won 22 points out of 30 possible.
The team has conceded goals to their opponent in seven of the last 10 matches, so they haven’t shown great defensive strength, but their offense has scored regularly, as they have scored goals in seven of the last 10 matches for this competition. In their home matches for this competition there is a tendency for few goals, since in 12 of the last 17 they have played there have been less than three goals. In 35 matches for this competition, they have conceded the first goal 13 times and have only turned the score around once. There are 1 periods that stand out in the last 17 home matches for this competition: they have conceded four of their 10 goals between minutes (61’‑75′).
Regarding Ceará, they are a team affected by the home factor, stronger when they play with the support of their supporters, since in the last 30 games they have recorded two wins, six draws and seven defeats as a visitor, with a total of 10 goals scored and 15 suffered. At home, they won six victories, four draws and five defeats, with a total of 17 goals scored and 14 conceded. In the last 10 away matches for the championship, Ceará has recorded five draws and five defeats, having won five points out of 30 possible.
For this competition, they haven’t won as a visitor in 11 games. In their away league matches, the most frequent result at half-time was 0‑0 (6 out of 17 matches). Defensive consistency hasn’t been their strong point, as they have conceded goals in nine of the last 10 matches for this competition. In their away matches there is a tendency for few goals, since 13 of the last 17 matches for the competition have ended with Under 2,5 goals. In 35 matches for this competition, they have conceded the first goal 18 times and have only turned the score around once.
