Corinthians appears comfortable under pressure and tries to preserve the 'Derby vibe'

Corinthians eliminated Palmeiras from the Copa do Brasil with a 2-0 victory at Allianz Parque, after a 1-0 win at Itaquera. Playing at their rival's home ground with an extra man from the 15th minute, due to Aníbal Moreno's red card, contributed to the positive outcome, but what truly determined the result was the team's performance.

Accustomed to the chaos that befalls the club off the field and aware of how devastating an elimination would be for their biggest rival on the field, Corinthians showed, in both matches, greater mental preparedness and ability to handle pressure than Palmeiras. What was evident on the green and white side was a lot of nervousness, from the coaching staff to the players.

Testing their nerves and leaving the Allianz with a 2-0 victory gives Corinthians renewed confidence and the work of Dorival Júnior, who had been heavily criticized. The challenge now is to preserve at least some of the Derby's "vibration" for the rest of the season, as Raniele said in the mixed zone.

"The impact is huge. I hope it continues to be a turning point for us, that we can carry this feeling, this excitement, not only to the derbies, but to other matches against other teams. We have a lot of quality, and when we match our opponents in spirit, we excel. I really hope it's a turning point and that we can bring joy to the fans," he said.

The Copa do Brasil quarterfinal berth comes amid a chaotic week. In addition to the upcoming members' meeting, which could ratify Augusto Melo's impeachment, scheduled for Saturday the 9th, the days leading up to the Derby were tense, even in training.

Memphis and Félix Torres had a disagreement on the eve of the decisive game, and information about the argument leaked beyond the gates of CT Joaquim Grava, which upset the players.

"The crowd is getting bigger. It was just a silly little argument. I'll say it again, what makes us saddest is when this news comes out about people inside. These are things that happen every day," commented defender Gustavo Henrique.

ADJUSTED DEFENSE AND NEXT CHALLENGE

To beat Palmeiras in both legs of the Copa do Brasil Round of 16, Corinthians relied on both adequate mental preparation and a strong defensive performance, as they have for several matches. This has been Dorival Júnior's greatest asset so far.

"The attack is highly valued, and rightly so; they're great players, but we work hard to win and give our attackers peace of mind. The fewer goals we concede, the better our chances of winning the game," Gustavo Henrique assessed.

The Parque São Jorge team will only play again on Monday in the Brazilian Championship, against Juventude in Caxias do Sul, in a match valid for the 19th round. The match will take place at Alfredo Jaconi Stadium, concluding the first round.

Memphis and Carrillo were substituted due to injuries and may be out. Yuri also had to leave due to injury, but it shouldn't be a problem for the next match. "I think Memphis is the most serious case. Carrillo had a foot injury, while Yuri, I think, is fine."