Atlético Mineiro is back in the Libertadores final 11 years after winning the title in the first and until then only time that it had advanced to the tournament’s final. This Tuesday (29), in Buenos Aires, the team from Minas Gerais controlled River Plate’s momentum and made the advantage they built in the first match prevail, when they won 3-0. At Monumental de Nuñez, there was a goalless draw .
In addition to removing the difference on the scoreboard, the Argentine team would still have to break Atlético’s long unbeaten run against Argentine teams. The last time a club from the neighboring country managed to beat the Minas Gerais team in the Libertadores was in 2013, when Newell’s Old Boys scored 2-0 in Argentina in the first game of the semi-final. On the way back, the Brazilian team returned the score and advanced to the decision on penalties.
Since then, there have been 14 games, with nine Atletico victories and five draws, with a 76% success rate in the main tournament of the South American continent — after beating Newell’s, the Brazilian team beat Olimpia, from Paraguay, in the final that year.
This time, Atlético Mineiro has everything it takes to face their home rival in the decision, as Botafogo won the first leg against Peñarol 5-0. This Wednesday (30), the lone star’s team could even lose by four goals difference in Montevideo, Uruguay, which will still qualify for the final.
This year’s final is scheduled for November 30th and will be played precisely on the stage where Atlético played this Tuesday, the Monumental de Nuñez Stadium, in the capital of Argentina.
Even without teams from the country competing for the title, Conmebol (South American Football Confederation) and local authorities must reinforce the security scheme in the country to avoid the problems that the team from Minas Gerais had before facing River.
The bus with the Atlético delegation was delayed during its journey towards the stadium due to lack of security. According to the team’s president, Sérgio Coelho, the police did not guarantee that the athletes and the coaching staff would arrive safely at the duel site.
After a discussion between the leader and members of the security forces, the Minas Gerais team managed to resume their trip and arrived at the stadium at 8:11 pm (Brasília time), less than 1h30 before the start of the confrontation. Because of the situation, the match had its start delayed by 15 minutes and was rescheduled by Conmebol (South American Football Confederation) for 9:45 pm.
“That police officer said he doesn’t have security to go to the stadium. I want him to publicly admit that he doesn’t have security as we don’t go to the game. It’s as simple as that,” said Sérgio Coelho to ESPN Brasil, still at the door of the hotel where the delegation was staying.
According to people who were on the delegation’s bus, the police reported that there was a conflict between fans around the stadium and this made it difficult to guarantee security.
Earlier, a bus taking Atlético fans to the stadium was attacked by River Plate fans. Images circulating on social media show that the vehicle had windows broken by rocks.
According to the Clarín newspaper, three men were arrested. From this situation, the Municipal Police had to reinforce the operation set up for the arrival of the rest of the Minas Gerais fans.
