Corinthians Draw 0-0 at Rosario Central in Libertadores Round-of-16 Opener Despite Allan's Red Card

On Thursday, August 13, 2026, Corinthians held Rosario Central to a 0-0 draw at the Estadio Gigante de Arroyito in Rosario, Argentina, in the first leg of their Copa Libertadores round-of-16 tie. The Brazilian side finished with 10 men after midfielder Allan was sent off in the 80th minute, yet goalkeeper Hugo Souza produced a decisive performance to keep the aggregate level ahead of the return leg on August 20 at the Neo Química Arena in São Paulo.

The night was also marked by a serious off-pitch incident. Around the 20th minute of the second half, Hugo Souza reported alleged racist abuse from the stands, prompting Uruguayan referee Andrés Matonte to activate CONMEBOL’s anti-racism protocol. Players including Rosario captain Ángel Di María appealed for calm among home supporters during a stoppage that overlapped with a hydration break.

Editor’s note: This article draws on match data from BBC Sport, live reporting from Infobae / EFE, and post-match coverage from Brazilian outlets including Placar and Terra, August 13–14, 2026.

Match at a glance

Detail	Information
Competition	CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores — Round of 16, first leg
Date	Thursday, August 13, 2026
Venue	Estadio Gigante de Arroyito, Rosario, Argentina
Final score	Rosario Central 0–0 Corinthians
Aggregate	0–0 (second leg Aug. 20 at Neo Química Arena, São Paulo)
Referee	Andrés Matonte (Uruguay)
VAR	Christian Ferreyra

Key match statistics

Stat	Rosario Central	Corinthians
Possession	57%	43%
Shots	16	5
Shots on target	2	1
Corners	12	0
Passes (accuracy)	406 (76%)	332 (72%)
Tackles	16	26
Clearances	6	56
Saves	1	2
Fouls committed	16	11
Yellow cards	3	2

Rosario Central dominated territory and directed 16 shots to Corinthians’ five, winning the corner count 12–0. Fernando Diniz’s side responded with a deep defensive block — 56 clearances — and Hugo Souza’s two saves, including late stops from Di María and Gastón Ávila, to leave Argentina with a share of the spoils.

Background: two group winners, one ticket

Both clubs arrived as group-stage winners in the 2026 Libertadores:

Club	Group	Record	Notes
Corinthians	Group E	Topped the table with 11 points	Advanced ahead of Peñarol, Rosario Central, and UCV
Rosario Central	Group H	Finished first with 13 points	Won the group without defeat; Ángel Di María led the attack

This was their first continental knockout meeting since a 2000 Libertadores tie, when the sides split home and away wins in the group stage. In 2026, the stakes were higher: only aggregate goals over two legs would decide who reaches the quarterfinals.

Corinthians traveled without Memphis Depay, whose contract was not renewed days before the tie, leaving Pedro Raúl to lead the line under Fernando Diniz. Rosario, coached by Jorge Almirón, leaned on Di María, Jaminton Campaz, and Enzo Copetti to exploit home advantage at the Gigante de Arroyito.

Local authorities had imposed strict segregation measures for visiting supporters, with buffer zones in the stands and staged exit procedures — a reminder of the tense atmosphere that often surrounds Brazilian clubs in Argentina.

How the game unfolded

First half: Hugo Souza early, a cautious stalemate

Almirón fielded Rosario in a 4-2-3-1 with Jeremías Ledesma in goal and Di María operating behind Copetti. Diniz mirrored the shape with Hugo Souza behind a back four of Matheuzinho, Gabriel Paulista, Gustavo Henrique, and Matheus Bidu, with Allan and Raniele screening the defense.

Rosario started the brighter side. Around the 11th minute, Campaz forced Hugo Souza into a save from distance, and Copetti tested the Corinthians goalkeeper again shortly after. Corinthians offered little going forward — just one shot on target across the entire match — but held their defensive shape to reach halftime at 0-0.

Discipline frayed before the break. Breno Bidon was booked in the 44th minute, Enzo Copetti saw yellow in stoppage time, and Matheuzinho was cautioned in the 45th+5 as Rosario pressed for a first-half breakthrough that never came.

Second half: Anti-racism protocol, Allan sent off, Rosario frustrated

Rosario raised the tempo after the interval. Di María and Campaz combined more sharply, and around the 62nd minute Ávila struck powerfully from a loose ball only for Hugo Souza to deny him.

Then came the night’s most serious moment. Hugo Souza alerted Matonte to alleged racist insults from the crowd. The referee activated the anti-racism protocol — a CONMEBOL procedure that can include announcements, pauses, and escalation if abuse continues. The stoppage coincided with a hydration break; Di María and other Rosario players were seen asking their supporters to calm down.

On the pitch, Corinthians’ task grew harder in the 80th minute when Allan received a second yellow card for a foul on substitute Federico Navarro, having already been booked for a challenge on Campaz. Rosario suddenly had a man advantage for the final 10 minutes plus six minutes of stoppage time.

The hosts poured forward. Di María came closest to a winner, forcing another fine save from Hugo Souza. Rosario also had a penalty appeal for handball against Raniele reviewed by VAR and dismissed. Despite 12 corners and sustained pressure, Almirón’s side could not find a goal — and Corinthians clung to the 0-0 that sends the tie back to São Paulo level.

Key events timeline

Minute	Event
11’	Campaz tests Hugo Souza; Corinthians goalkeeper saves
31’	Vicente Pizarro (Rosario) booked
44’	Breno Bidon (Corinthians) booked
45’+2	Copetti (Rosario) booked
45’+5	Matheuzinho (Corinthians) booked
~62’	Hugo Souza saves from Ávila after Di María free kick
~65’	Anti-racism protocol activated after Hugo Souza reports alleged abuse
80’	Allan sent off (second yellow) for foul on Navarro
~87’	Hugo Souza denies Di María; VAR rejects Rosario penalty appeal
90’+6	Full time — 0-0

What it means for both clubs

Corinthians: a valuable away point under pressure

For Diniz’s Corinthians, leaving Rosario with a clean sheet and a level aggregate counts as a strong first-leg result — especially after playing the closing stages with 10 men and amid the racism incident.

Hugo Souza was the clear standout, and the defensive discipline that produced 56 clearances showed a team willing to sacrifice possession to stay alive in the competition. The cost is Allan’s suspension for the return leg, which will test Corinthians’ midfield depth at the Neo Química Arena.

Corinthians also remain engaged on the domestic front. The club faces a congested August schedule in the Brasileirão alongside this knockout tie.

Rosario Central: dominance without a reward

Rosario will view the night as a missed opportunity. The Canalla controlled the ball, won a dozen corners, and finished with 16 shots — yet could not break down a organized Corinthians block even after Allan’s dismissal.

Di María and Campaz created the best chances, but Almirón’s side lacked the cutting edge to punish a visitor playing for survival. With the return leg in Brazil, Rosario must score at the Neo Química Arena to advance — a 1-0 win would force penalties; anything less would eliminate them.

What’s next

Club	Next fixture	Competition
Corinthians	Sun., Aug. 17 — vs. Cruzeiro (H)	Brasileirão Série A
Corinthians	Thu., Aug. 20 — vs. Rosario Central (H)	Libertadores round of 16, 2nd leg
Rosario Central	Thu., Aug. 20 — at Corinthians (A)	Libertadores round of 16, 2nd leg

The winner advances to a quarterfinal. The 2026 Copa Libertadores final is scheduled as a single match on November 28 at Estadio Centenario in Montevideo, Uruguay.

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Discussion

Corinthians survived a tense night in Rosario with the tie level — but Rosario Central will wonder how they failed to convert such heavy territorial advantage at home.

1. Rosario Central had 16 shots and 12 corners but scored zero goals even after Allan’s 80th-minute red card left Corinthians with 10 men. Was this poor finishing, or did Fernando Diniz’s defensive setup simply win the tactical battle?

Does Jorge Almirón need a more direct approach from the opening whistle in São Paulo, or was one inspired night from Hugo Souza all that stood between Rosario and a first-leg lead?

2. Hugo Souza’s report of alleged racist abuse from the stands led to CONMEBOL’s anti-racism protocol being activated mid-match. How should football authorities respond when incidents like this occur during high-stakes knockout ties — and what message does it send ahead of the return leg in Brazil?

Share where you think this Libertadores round-of-16 tie is headed — and whether Corinthians can protect their clean sheet at the Neo Química Arena without Allan in midfield.

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