Bernard scores in stoppage time, Atlético reach Copa do Brasil semis | OneFootball

Atlético and Bolívar took to the field on the night of Wednesday (24th), in the second leg of the 2025 Copa Sudamericana quarterfinals. After drawing 2-2 at high altitude, it was up to both teams to decide the spot at Arena MRV, where Galo was looking to end a bad run of results during a time of crisis.

For Wednesday night, Sampaoli was seeking his first win in charge of Galo in his second stint with the team. With a three-man defensive line, Arana and Scarpa playing as wing-backs, and Reinier up front with Hulk, the team that took the field utilized the best the squad could offer the black-and-white side:

First half

What was expected from Atlético at the start of the match ended up not happening. The team, which was imagined to impose a strong and intense pace, taking advantage of the momentum of playing alongside their fans, ended up having many difficulties in building plays, especially in playing out from the back and with little effective participation from the midfielders. It was Bolívar who threatened, with quick balls, always finding center-forward Cauteruccio, and threatened Everson’s goal in the opening minutes.

As the game progressed and Atlético kept more possession, controlling the midfield, they even managed to get close to the opposition’s box, but couldn’t create any great chances to finish. A false sense of dominance could be seen in the stats, as Atlético didn’t have a single clear shot on goal.

The situation got even more complicated for Galo at the 20-minute mark of the first half: Alexsander, one of those responsible for the best offensive transitions for the black-and-white attack, had to be substituted after feeling an injury. Bernard was Sampaoli’s choice to take his place and make the team even more attacking, staying closer to Hulk and Reinier.

Despite the changes, Atlético still couldn’t build good attacking plays until the end of the first half. The best chance came from Gustavo Scarpa, with a shot from outside the box, low, which was deflected and ended up as a corner. And so the first half ended goalless at Arena MRV: Atlético 0-0 Bolívar.

Second half

For the second half, Sampaoli chose to return with the same team that finished the first half. Despite keeping the same lineup, the attitude was clearly different. With a higher defensive line, Galo pressed Bolívar in their own half, leaving Bolívar only the option to rely on counterattacks. This new attitude meant that goalkeeper Lampe was called into action more often in the opening minutes.

As time went on, the nerves from not scoring gave way to tactics on the field: some players opted for individual plays and managed to create some danger. Arana had a good chance with a shot from the edge of the box, but the ball narrowly missed. Lyanco managed a run through midfield, but no one capitalized on the loose ball.

Looking for fresh legs, Jorge Sampaoli made a change: in the 17th minute, Rony came on to lead the attack in place of Reinier. The substitution didn’t have the desired effect and, after losing some control of the game, Bolívar risked pushing more players forward and pressing Atlético, creating danger with aerial balls, for example.

Seeing this growth from the visiting team, Sampaoli made his final changes: Fausto Vera, Biel, and Caio came on for Iván Román, Hulk, and Arana, respectively. The substitution drew attention due to the exit of Hulk, an idol and one of the leaders of this squad. With more physicality and speed, thanks to the characteristics of the players who came on, Galo gained more options, especially down the flanks.

Sampaoli’s strategy paid off: Biel, using his speed, was fouled and a penalty was awarded. VAR checked the play and the replay showed the foul occurred outside the box. Scarpa took the free kick and sent it over the goal. Bolívar tried their luck in the final minutes, making the game even more open and stretched, with long balls increasingly becoming dangerous chances for both teams. With 5 minutes of added time, Galo pressed even harder in search of the goal that would avoid a penalty shootout.

And their effort was rewarded: from a cross into the box by Gustavo Scarpa, Bernard arrived behind the defense and headed in to score the goal in the 47th minute of the second half. Atlético 1-0 Bolívar. The goal that sent Atlético directly to the semifinals of the Copa Sudamericana.

What’s next…

Now Atlético turns its attention to the Brazilian Championship, where they will face Mirassol at Arena MRV, looking to bounce back in the national tournament. The match takes place on Saturday at 9 p.m.

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