Bernard scores late, in pain but celebrates Atlético semi-final

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·25 September 2025

Bernard scores late, in pain but celebrates Atlético semi-final

Atlético is in the semifinals of the Copa Sudamericana. On the evening of last Wednesday (24), at Arena MRV, Galo defeated Bolívar (BOL) 1-0, following a 2-2 draw at the altitude of La Paz. With this result, the team from Minas Gerais secured a spot among the top four in the competition and will now face Independiente del Valle (EQU). The Ecuadorian team eliminated Once Caldas (COL) away from home, in a penalty shootout.

But the hero of the night in Belo Horizonte was Bernard, who scored in the stoppage time of the second half after an assist from Gustavo Scarpa, experiencing a night of overcoming and redemption.

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The midfielder had not been going through a good phase at the club, just like the team, which is in its most unstable phase of the season. After the final whistle, Bernard gave an interview in the mixed zone and expressed his feelings about the current situation.

It's a difficult moment, we're making silly mistakes, things I don't usually make, but I was lacking a bit of confidence. It was very visible the things I was getting wrong. I've already said this in an interview, I will make mistakes, but I won't hide at any moment, I won't stop putting myself out there, trying, making things happen. It's a football game, where there are many mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes, but in the end, some are criticized a little more, which is totally normal. We have to have a strong mentality.

Against the Odds

The midfielder also revealed that he almost missed the match. Bernard reported that he underwent a dental procedure and played despite feeling severe pain: "I had the possibility of missing today's game. I had to have my 4 wisdom teeth removed, I was in a lot of pain. Today I woke up with a very swollen face, not knowing why, entering a feverish state. I needed to take antibiotics before the game to play. So, from having the possibility of missing the match to being crowned (with a goal) the way it happened, I'm extremely happy. I'm working hard, focused and concentrated, giving my all. I know I can give more here at Galo, which is the club I defend on the field and support, love,” he said.

Gratitude and Renewed Confidence

Bernard celebrated the chance to make a decisive impact in a year when he received few opportunities. The midfielder highlighted the team's dedication and the difficulty of facing Bolívar in La Paz.

Being here today, in a year when I didn't have many opportunities, and scoring a decisive goal, I'm very happy and grateful. This group deserves it a lot (the qualification), we dedicated ourselves a lot in the first leg which was very complicated. Anyone who plays football knows how difficult it is to play at altitude. So, besides my joy, I know my teammates are also happy to secure this spot in the semifinals.

Now qualified, Atlético turns its focus back to the Brazilian Championship, where they urgently need to recover. This Saturday, at Arena MRV, Galo will host Mirassol at 9:00 PM, in a match valid for the 25th round.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.