Corinthians faces Independiente Santa Fe on Wednesday at 21:30 Brasília time at Neo Química Arena with a chance to push farther clear at the top of Group E in the Conmebol Libertadores. The Brazilian side beat Platense in its opening match and now returns home needing a result in a stadium where it has not won in more than two months.
The match matters because Corinthians is trying to isolate itself further at the top of the group, while Santa Fe comes in after a 1-1 draw with Peñarol in its Libertadores debut in Colombia. The game will be shown by TV Globo, ge tv and Paramount+.
Fernando Diniz is expected to keep the base of the team from the last two matches, despite a long injury list that leaves him without João Pedro Tchoca, Fabrizio Angileri, Charles, Memphis Depay, Gui Negão, Kaio César, Hugo and Alex Santana. The probable lineup has Hugo Souza; Matheuzinho, Gabriel Paulista, Gustavo Henrique and Matheus Bidu; Raniele, André, Breno Bidon and Rodrigo Garro; Kayke and Yuri Alberto. On Santa Fe's side, Pablo Repetto is expected to send his best available team, with Asprilla; Palacios, Olivera, Moreno and Mafla; Jhojan Torres, Daniel Torres, Toscano and Frascica; Palacios and Rodallega.
Corinthians is also coming off a draw against Palmeiras in which it played with two players less for more than 20 minutes, a reminder that its recent results have been uneven even as it holds the early advantage in the group. Santa Fe has not won in four games and arrives in São Paulo trying to steady itself after an opening point that kept it alive but did not give it control of its campaign.
Juan Gabriel Benítez of Paraguay will referee the match, assisted by Milciades Saldivar and Julio Aranda, with Carlos P Benitez as fourth official and Jose Mendez on VAR duty. In a group that can shift quickly, Corinthians has the sharper immediate target: protect its lead, and do it at home for the first time in more than two months.
