Luis Torres
Dailysports's expert
On May 22, 2025, the second leg of the Copa do Brasil will take place, with Corinthians hosting Novorizontino on their home turf. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 CET. Let’s break down the best bet for this high-stakes encounter.
Corinthians
Corinthians approach the return leg of the Copa do Brasil in buoyant spirits. The team has notched back-to-back 1-0 victories in their last two outings. First, they edged out Santos at home in the Brazilian championship, then claimed a crucial away win over Racing Montevideo in the Copa Sudamericana.
In the national league, Corinthians sit eighth in the standings with 13 points, just four points shy of a direct playoff spot. Their home form is impressive—unbeaten in their last five at home, with four wins and one draw.
In the Copa Sudamericana, Corinthians are currently second in their group after five rounds and remain firmly in the hunt for a playoff berth.
It’s worth noting, however, that in their last home clash against Novorizontino, Corinthians suffered a shock 1-3 defeat. That result will surely serve as extra motivation for the hosts to exact revenge in front of their fans.
Novorizontino
Novorizontino also come into this clash on a high after a 2-0 away win over Athletic Club in Serie B. They currently occupy ninth place in the table with 13 points, trailing the top four—who earn promotion to Serie A—by just two points.
However, Novorizontino’s away form has been less convincing. The win over Athletic Club snapped a four-match winless streak on the road.
Head-to-head stats with Corinthians are also not in Novorizontino’s favor. In the last six meetings: 1 win, 1 draw, and 4 defeats. Notably, four of those six matches ended with under 2.5 goals, and Corinthians won three times by the minimum 1-0 margin.
Key facts and head-to-head
- Corinthians have won 4 of their last 5 home matches.
- Corinthians are unbeaten in 5 of their last 6 matches.
- Novorizontino have failed to win 3 of their last 4 matches.
- Corinthians have won 4 of the last 5 head-to-head meetings with Novorizontino.
- 7 of the last 9 head-to-head clashes have ended with under 2.5 goals.
- The first leg between these sides ended in a 1-0 win for Corinthians.
Probable lineups
- Corinthians: Souza, Angileri, Kaka, Torres, Mana, Maycon, Martinez, Romero, Coronado, Carrillo, Alberto.
- Novorizontino: Airton, Patrick, Donato, Dantas, Bray, Irmer, Oyama, Alves Rodrigo, Frizzo, Vaguininho, Duego.
Match prediction: Corinthians vs Novorizontino
Corinthians head into the second leg with a comfortable one-goal advantage after their 1-0 away win. Now, playing at home with the backing of their supporters and a strong head-to-head record, the team can approach the match with composure and confidence. Novorizontino, on the other hand, are forced to take risks—they need to overturn the deficit, which will likely see them adopt a more attacking approach. This could open up space for Corinthians to strike on the counter, where they are especially dangerous. Given Corinthians’ historical dominance in this fixture, solid home form, and slim advantage from the first leg, the hosts are clear favorites and have every chance of progressing to the next round. My pick for this match is a Corinthians win at odds of 1.69.
