Corinthians and FC Cascavel Battle Through Scrappy Friendly Draw

Corinthians faced FC Cascavel in a friendly match at the Estádio Olímpico Regional this Sunday, but the first half proved to be more of a physical struggle than a display of technical football.

The Paraná side nearly opened the scoring just five minutes into the game following a defensive error by Gabriel Paulista and a near own-goal from Matheuzinho. Beyond that close call, genuine scoring opportunities remained rare as the match turned increasingly aggressive.

Football frequently took a backseat during the opening period. In the 23rd minute, Yuri Alberto challenged Renan Cosenza with a tackle that resembled a judo move. Shortly after, a scuffle broke out between Robinho and André Ramalho, resulting in bookings for both players.

The match also served as a milestone for FC Cascavel, marking the farewell of club idol Líbano. The 37-year-old right-back, who completed five separate spells with the club, played his final match in a Serpente shirt before being substituted in the 36th minute.

Looking ahead, Corinthians resumes its official schedule on the 23rd with a Brasileirão round 19 match against Remo. FC Cascavel, having been eliminated in the Série D group stage, is now preparing for the upcoming Copa Paraná.

That tournament features a competitive field including Athletico, Azuriz, Cianorte, Foz do Iguaçu, Londrina, Paraná, Paranavaí, and São Joseense. The eventual champion will earn the right to choose between a spot in the Copa do Brasil or the 2027 Sul-Sudeste.