Atletico hold Palmeiras to a draw at the Arena in Brasileiro opener | OneFootball

Atlético showed a competitive stance and built a consistent performance, but ended up with a 2-2 draw against Palmeiras on the night of Wednesday (1/28), at Arena MRV, in Belo Horizonte, for the opening round of the Brasileirão. The team from Minas showed resilience after falling behind, sought the comeback, and was close to starting the championship with a victory in front of their fans.

Palmeiras took the lead with Flaco López, taking advantage of one of their chances in the first half. Atlético responded before halftime with Victor Hugo and maintained control of the actions for much of the second half. The pressure was rewarded with a comeback, built on an own goal by Khellven after a play down the flank. However, towards the end of the match, Vitor Roque appeared for the São Paulo team and scored the goal that sealed the draw, frustrating Galo's positive outcome at home.

The match also had refereeing as one of the central points of debate after the final whistle. Contested plays throughout the game provoked irritation on Atlético's bench, which publicly demonstrated its dissatisfaction with the decisions made. The complaints gained strength in the final minutes, and Jorge Sampaoli's assertive stance towards referee Bruno Arleu de Araújo resulted in the expulsion of the Argentine coach, heightening the tension that marked the end of the confrontation.

GAME SUMMARY

Right from the start, both teams showed intensity. Dudu posed a threat to Atlético on the counterattack, while Flaco López responded for Palmeiras with a shot from outside the area. Hulk was the main offensive focus for the Minas team, suffering several fouls and attempting mid-range shots, but without overcoming Palmeiras' defense.

Palmeiras began to grow from the middle of the first half, with Andreas Pereira and Maurício taking shots from outside the area. The pressure from the green team was confirmed at 27 minutes when Flaco López took advantage of a corner kick and scored with a header, opening the scoring at Mineirão.

Atlético reacted, increased the pressure, and created good opportunities, especially with Renan Lodi and Hulk. The persistence was rewarded at 43 minutes when Victor Hugo finished with his left foot inside the area and leveled the score. The halftime arrived with a 1-1 draw, in a game marked by intensity and balance.

The second half was even more hectic and marked by goals, VAR decisions, and constant changes on the scoreboard. Palmeiras started better, with more possession and posing threats mainly through crosses. Everson played a decisive role early on, with important saves on shots from Maurício and Flaco López, preventing the São Paulo team from taking the lead.

Atlético responded with changes and managed to turn the game around at 29 minutes, in a confusing play after a cross from Gustavo Scarpa that ended in an own goal by Khellven. Shortly after, Tomás Cuello managed to score with his first touch on the ball after a pass from Everson, but the goal was disallowed for offside.

Palmeiras continued to press and was rewarded at 38 minutes when Vitor Roque took advantage of a rebound from the goalkeeper and leveled the score. In the final minutes, the game became scrappy, with cards, discussions, and offsides, and the score remained tied until the final whistle.

Galo's Schedule

After the debut in the Brasileirão, Atlético will focus on the Mineiro. Galo will take the field on Saturday (1/31), when they face Pouso Alegre at Estádio Manduzão, at 4:30 PM, in a match valid for the sixth round of the Campeonato Mineiro.

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