Hulk hat-trick as Atlético-MG thrash Itabirito, into Mineiro semis | OneFootball

Atlético-MG thrashed Itabirito on Saturday night by 7 to 2 in the eighth and final round of the group stage of the Campeonato Mineiro. With this result, they advanced to the semifinals of the State Championship. Hulk (three times), Victor Hugo, Gustavo Scarpa, Cassiera, and Renan Lodi scored the goals for Galo in the match held at Estádio Castor Cifuentes, in Nova Lima (MG). Romário Simões and Apolinário scored for the home team.

This was Galo’s first match after the departure of coach Sampaoli.

Match Situation

With this result, Atlético-MG advances to the semifinals of the Mineiro, leading Group A with 14 points. Meanwhile, Itabirito says goodbye to the State Championship with seven points, finishing third in Group C.

📋 Match Summary

🔵🔴 ITABIRITO 2 x 7 ATLÉTICO-MG ⚫⚪ 🏆 Competition: Campeonato Mineiro (8th round) 🏟️ Venue: Estádio Castor Cifuentes, in Nova Lima (MG) 📅 Date: February 14, 2026 (Saturday) ⏰ Time: 7:00 p.m. (Brasília time) 🟨 Yellow cards: Pedro Rodrigues (Itabirito) 🟥 Red cards: None

Refereeing

Referee: Felipe Fernandes de Lima Assistants: Felipe Alan Costa de Oliveira and Magno Arantes Lira VAR: Emerson de Almeida Ferreira

Goals

⚽ Victor Hugo, 16′ of 1st half (Atlético-MG) ⚽ Hulk, 30′ of 1st half (Atlético-MG) ⚽ Gustavo Scarpa, 43′ of 1st half (Atlético-MG) ⚽ Hulk, 6′ of 2nd half (Atlético-MG) ⚽ Hulk, 15′ of 2nd half (Atlético-MG) ⚽ Cassiera, 25′ of 2nd half (Atlético-MG) ⚽ Renan Lodi, 30′ of 2nd half (Atlético-MG) ⚽ Romário Simões, 32′ of 2nd half (Itabirito) ⚽ Apolinário, 41′ of 2nd half (Itabirito)

🔵🔴 Itabirito Vinícius Dias; Gleisinho, Wallace, Felipe Camargo and Bryan; Serginho, Pedro Rodrigues (Apolinário) and Matheus Galdino (Nathan Zamith); Guilherme Givigi (Ferreira), Romário and Luis Araújo (Hulk). Coach: Luizão

⚫⚪ Atlético-MG Everson; Ruan, Natanael, Vitor Hugo and Lodi (Bernard); Maycon (Reinier), Alan Franco, Victor Hugo and Scarpa; Dudu (Cuello) and Hulk. Coach: Lucas Gonçalves

How was the match?

Atlético-MG opened the scoring at 16 minutes into the first half. Vitor Hugo sent Natanael down the right, the full-back entered the box and crossed to the middle. Victor Hugo appeared unmarked and headed in to put Galo ahead. Itabirito responded at the 21st minute, when Luís Araújo sent a shot close to Everson’s post.

Hulk was responsible for the second goal at 30 minutes. Dudu was fouled after being pulled by Pedro Rodrigues. Galo’s number 7 stepped up to take the free kick and, from distance, scored a beautiful goal directly, with no chance for Vinícius Dias to save.

Itabirito’s goalkeeper soon after made a good save to deny Dudu a goal. Galo made things more comfortable at 43 with the third goal. Alan Franco recovered the ball in attack after a mistake by Itabirito in their build-up and passed to Gustavo Scarpa, who opened up on the left. Number 10 shot low into the corner and extended Galo’s lead.

Hulk scored another for Atlético-MG at six minutes into the second half. After winning the ball near the box, Dudu set up Hulk, who advanced and passed to number 7, who broke into the area and chipped it over the goalkeeper. Then, he completed his hat-trick at the 15th minute. Reinier was brought down in the box and the referee awarded a penalty. Hulk converted from the spot.

Soon after, Reinier shot in the box and the ball hit the arm of an Itabirito defender. The referee then awarded another penalty. Cassiera stepped up and converted to make it six at 25 minutes. At 30, Renan Lodi struck from outside the box and scored the seventh. Itabirito managed to pull one back with Romário Simões two minutes later. At 43, Apolinário received from Denzel and scored the home team’s second.

Upcoming matches

Atlético-MG

Match: Grêmio vs Atlético-MG Competition: Campeonato Brasileiro (4th round) Date and time: February 25, 2026 (Wednesday), at 9:30 p.m. (Brasília time) Venue: Arena do Grêmio, in Porto Alegre (RS)

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