Botafogo and Atlético Mineiro will decide the title of the 2024 Copa Libertadores. Just like the Minas Gerais team, the Rio team maintained the wide advantage they built in the first leg of the semifinal against Peñarol and, despite the defeat in Uruguay, by 3 to 1, advanced to the final for the first time in its history.
In the first match, General Severiano’s team had won 5-0, a result that allowed the team to remain calm despite the pressure exerted by the Uruguayans.
In the first 45 minutes, the home team managed to score just one, with Jaime Báez, with a beautiful shot from outside the area. At the break, however, the team suffered a blow when an athlete was sent off. As the two teams left the pitch, goalkeeper Aguerre kicked goalkeeper Johm and was warned with a red card.
Even with one down, Peñarol scored again in the second half, again with a shot from Báez, in the 21st minute. Three minutes later, it was the Rio team’s turn to have a player sent off, when Mateo Ponte received a second yellow card.
Despite the moment of lack of control, the advantage was still big and Botafogo managed to score at the end, with Almada, at 43. Peñarol responded in the next minute, with Batista, but it was too late.
This year’s decision is scheduled for November 30th and will be played at the Monumental de Nuñez Stadium, in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
At River Plate’s home, Atlético Mineiro will fight for their second continental tournament title 11 years after winning the trophy the only time they reached the last stage of the competition. Botafogo had never made it past the semi-finals.
Tense climate
Although the game was peaceful for the Brazilian team due to the large advantage built in the first leg, before the match the atmosphere was tense. And it got worse right after the team moved from the hotel to the Centenario stadium, when the Rio delegation’s bus was the target of an attack.
Fans of the home team threw stones at the vehicle, which had some windows damaged. There were no injuries reported.
The act of vandalism was yet another episode that marked the tumultuous meeting between Brazilians and Uruguayans in this semifinal. Initially scheduled for the Campeón Del Siglo stadium, which belongs to Peñarol, the game was transferred to Centenario precisely for security reasons.
According to the director of the National Police of Uruguay, José Manuel Azambuya, it was not possible to guarantee the protection of all fans at Del Siglo, where Botafogo fans had even been banned. The ban was a consequence of the scenes of violence seen in Rio de Janeiro last week, in the first clash between the teams.
On that occasion, more than 280 Peñarol fans were detained in the north of Rio after a widespread fight on the edge of Recreio dos Bandeirantes, in the west of the city. The majority were released, but around 20 are still detained.
Days after the incident, the Uruguayan Ministry of the Interior announced the ban on the presence of fans of the Brazilian team in the Uruguayan team’s stadium.
The veto only fell when Conmebol (South American Football Confederation) determined the change of stadium and had the Uruguayan government’s agreement.
