As the rain poured down on Friday, April 18, 2025, the Corinthians squad found themselves unable to complete their final training session at CT Joaquim Grava, just a day before their crucial matchup against Sport at Neo Química Arena. The team is gearing up for the fifth round of the Campeonato Brasileiro, but the weather had other plans.
Orlando Ribeiro, who is stepping in as the interim coach after Ramón Díaz's departure, led the team through a series of tactical videos and a physical activation in the gym, but the rain thwarted any chance of a proper on-field session. Ribeiro, who is also the manager of the under-20 team, is preparing his squad to face a Sport team that currently sits at the bottom of the league table.
In a significant blow for the Corinthians, Talles Magno has been ruled out of the match due to pneumonia. The 22-year-old forward was hospitalized at Vila Nova Star hospital in São Paulo after experiencing severe symptoms, including a high fever during the previous match against Fluminense. Despite entering the game with a temperature of 38.8ºC, Magno managed to play for 25 minutes but was later taken to the ICU for monitoring.
As of now, Talles's condition is stable, and he is reportedly eating well, but there is no set date for his discharge. His absence is felt deeply, as he is the vice-top scorer for Corinthians this season, with five goals to his name, trailing only Yuri Alberto, who has eight.
Corinthians will also be missing several other key players for this match. Matheuzinho and José Martínez are both serving suspensions due to accumulated yellow cards, while Hugo Souza (right thigh injury), Rodrigo Garro (patellar tendinopathy), and Igor Coronado (shoulder trauma) remain sidelined with injuries. This leaves Ribeiro with limited options as he prepares for a must-win game against Sport.
In his pre-match comments, Ribeiro emphasized the need for his team to maintain an offensive yet balanced approach. "The Sport team is known for their pressure on our build-up play, and I expect them to bring that intensity again," he stated. "We need to attack with quality and speed, especially playing at home where our supporters expect us to dominate the match. We will press the opponent, but we must do so with balance."
Currently, Corinthians sits in 14th place in the Campeonato Brasileiro standings, having accumulated just four points from their first four games—one victory, one draw, and two losses. In contrast, Sport is struggling at the bottom of the table with only one point from their matches. This clash is critical for both teams as they look to improve their positions in the league.
With the match set for Saturday, April 19, 2025, at 16:00 (Brasília time), the atmosphere is charged with anticipation. The fans are hoping for a strong performance from their team, especially under the temporary leadership of Ribeiro. The players will need to rally together in the absence of their star forward and others to secure a much-needed victory.
As the clock ticks down to kickoff, all eyes will be on the Neo Química Arena, where Corinthians hopes to turn their fortunes around against a struggling Sport side. Will they rise to the occasion and deliver a performance worthy of their supporters? Only time will tell.
In the coming days, the Corinthians management will be busy searching for a permanent head coach to replace Ramón Díaz, who was let go following the disappointing loss to Fluminense. There are ongoing discussions with potential candidates, including Dorival Júnior, as the club looks to stabilize their season and improve their standing in the league.
As the team prepares for this pivotal match, the fans remain hopeful that their beloved Corinthians can overcome the odds and secure a victory that would not only boost their spirits but also their position in the Campeonato Brasileiro table.
