In a rematch from the 2023 Copa Sudamericana semi-finals, Fortaleza and Corinthians will square off a round earlier this year, with the opening leg of that tie occurring on Tuesday at Arena Castelao. The hosts are winless in their last three games and were held to a 1-1 draw by Athletico Paranaense in the Brazilian Serie A last week. Interestingly, all three games were played away from home. The visitors saw their winning streak ended after two games on Saturday as they fell to a 2-1 away loss to Botafogo. Rodrigo Garro had equalized from the penalty spot in the 63rd minute but Thiago Almada restored Botafogo's lead four minutes later.

Fortaleza's Home Advantage

Leão do Pici have endured a three-game winless run in the Serie A, but these were away games and they will look to bounce back with a win at home. They have enjoyed a 13-game winning streak at home and have won their last five home meetings against the visitors. Fortaleza have victories in all four of their Copa Sudamericana home fixtures this year and are on a 13-match winning run at Arena Castelao across all competitions. They have never lost to a Brazilian opponent in this competition, eliminating Corinthians in the 2023 semi-finals 3-1 on aggregate.

Corinthians' Injury Concerns

Timão have seen conclusive results in their last six games in all competitions, with four losses and two wins. They have suffered three consecutive losses in away games, including a 1-0 loss to Fortaleza in the Brazilian Serie A last month. Nonetheless, they have won four of their last five games in the Sudamericana. Corinthians, which reached the quarterfinals as group leaders, faces the challenge of playing with a depleted squad. Coach Ramón Díaz will focus on a solid defense with Félix Torres and Cacá, while counting on Charles and Yuri Alberto in the attack, who return after serving suspensions. New signing Memphis Depay has not traveled with the team to Sao Paulo, as he continues to work on his fitness and should be available for his debut against Atletico Goianiense later this week.

Key Players and Form

On the opposite side, Corinthians could be missing Ruan Oliveira due to an ACL injury, Alex Santana is not expected to return from his thigh issue until early November and Memphis Depay is seeking his first appearance for his new club, sitting out of the past few matches with physical discomfort. Corinthians, which reached the quarterfinals as group leaders, faces the challenge of playing with a depleted squad. Coach Ramón Díaz will focus on a solid defense with Félix Torres and Cacá, while counting on Charles and Yuri Alberto in the attack, who return after serving suspensions.

Fortaleza's Recent Form

Fortaleza, currently third in the Brazilian League, will face a weakened Corinthians in the quarterfinals of the Copa Sudamericana this Tuesday at the Castelão Stadium. Fortaleza arrives in good form after a solid performance in the tournament, including a 3-1 victory over Rosario Central in the round of 16. In contrast, Corinthians is struggling in the relegation zone of the Brazilian Championship and advanced to the quarterfinals after a tough penalty shootout against Bragantino. Despite Fortaleza's recent struggles in the Brasileirão, with a draw and a loss to Botafogo, the team remains strong in the Sudamericana. The team may miss defender Bruno Pacheco and goalkeeper Santos, but Yago Pikachu, Brítez, and Leandro Martínez are ready to contribute after serving suspensions.

Corinthians' Form and Tactics

Leading by two goals in the aggregate score against Bragantino, Corinthians failed to contain their opponents' attacking press, conceding twice but surviving the shootout. It was only thanks to some heroic goalkeeping that they advanced, as Ramon Diaz saw his side miss two penalties, but three of Braga's were saved. This will be the third time they feature in the last eight of this tournament in their previous four appearances, with Corinthians advancing beyond this stage on those three occasions. They have lost three consecutive away matches in all competitions by a single goal, with their last win as the visitors occurring in the opening leg of their tie with Bragantino last month (2-1). Before their second leg fixture with the Red Bull club in the last 16, this team had never lost a 2024 Sudamericana contest in normal time when scoring first, something they have done in every one of their matches at the tournament this year. Timao have never won a Sudamericana quarter-final fixture away from home after 90 minutes, losing 1-0 at Estudiantes at this stage a year ago but managing to advance on penalties (3-2).

The Matchup

Neither side have been particularly sharp since advancing from the last 16 of this tournament, but all season long, Fortaleza have found a way to win at home, and that belief could go a long way to another triumph on Tuesday. The winner of this Brazilian clash will face either Racing or Athletico Paranaense in the semifinals. Fortaleza looks to secure its place in the semifinals by taking advantage of their home field and the challenging situation faced by their opponents.

Prediction and Analysis

The two teams play for the third time in six days, so fatigue will be a factor. With that in mind and considering their current form, a draw will likely ensue.

Conclusion: A Tight Contest Awaits

Argentine coach Juan Pablo Voivoda has prepared his team to capitalize on the home advantage. Fortaleza, which has shown strength at the Castelão, hopes to maintain its strong performance against a Corinthians side that arrives with several key players out due to injuries. Fortaleza will welcome Corinthians to Arena Castelão in the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana quarterfinals on Tuesday. The two sides will meet for the second season in a row in the knockout stage of the competition and locked horns in the semifinals last season.