Corinthians and Estudiantes settle Libertadores berth in Brazil

A late equalizer in La Plata left the tie wide open, and now it will be decided in Brazil. Corinthians and Estudiantes meet this Wednesday, September 16 at Neo Química Arena for the second leg of the 2026 Copa Libertadores quarterfinals, with a spot in the semifinals on the line that neither side wants to let slip.

Kickoff is set for 9:30 p.m. (Argentina, Uruguay and Chile) and 7:30 p.m. (Colombia, Peru and Ecuador), with the match available through Disney+'s Premium Plan for South America.

Two histories looking to repeat themselves

There is more than just advancement at stake here. Estudiantes have not reached a Libertadores semifinal since 2009, the very year they lifted their last continental title. Corinthians are stuck in the same drought, having last gone that far in 2012, when they ended up champions. Two clubs with a rich history in the tournament, both in need of a spark to feel like contenders again.

The first leg suggests this one will be tight: at Jorge Luis Hirschi the teams drew 1-1, with Alexis Castro scoring for the "Pincha" and Kaio finding the net for the Brazilian side. That result leaves Corinthians in a comfortable spot: a win by any margin at home is enough to send them through to the final four. Estudiantes, on the other hand, need a victory, or at least to hold the draw to force the tie into penalties.

At Corinthians, Fernando Diniz can call on heavyweight names like Memphis Depay, Rodrigo Garro, Gustavo Henrique and Breno Bidon to try to break down the defensive wall Estudiantes tend to build on the road. On the other side, Alexander Medina is leaning on Guido Carrillo, Joaquín Correa, Alexis Castro himself, the scorer of the first-leg goal, and Joaquín Tobio Burgos.

Domestic form has not fully favored either club. Corinthians arrive bruised after falling 2-1 on the road to Flamengo, the Brasileirao leader, a tournament in which the "Timao" currently sit 13th. Estudiantes, meanwhile, are 10th in Group A of the Clausura, though they come in with the confidence of a 2-1 win over Platense in their last home game.

The tie promises to go down to the wire. Corinthians know a narrow result works in their favor, but they also know Estudiantes rarely play it safe when they need to flip a script. For Medina's side, anything short of a win in regulation means keeping hope alive through penalties, a stage where the smallest detail can tip the balance. What is clear is that both teams arrive with the same need: to end a drought of more than a decade without reaching a Libertadores semifinal.