When they enter the pitch at Defensores del Chaco, in Asunción, Paraguay, for the Copa Sudamericana decision against the Argentine team Lanús, the Atlético Mineiro players, in addition to seeking an unprecedented title for the club, will also try to break a recent and uncomfortable negative sequence of Brazilian teams in the tournament.
In the last three years, Brazilian teams have ended up being defeated repeatedly in the final of the continental competition.
The 2025 final is scheduled for this Saturday (22), in the Paraguayan capital, at 5 pm (Brasília time), with broadcast on SBT, on open TV, ESPN, on pay TV, and Disney+, on streaming.
In 2024, Cruzeiro ended up being beaten 3-1 by Racing, from Argentina, who had already eliminated Corinthians in the semifinals.
In 2023, LDU, from Quito, beat Fortaleza on penalties, after a 1-1 draw in regulation time, preventing the Brazilian team from achieving its first international title.
The previous year, it was Ecuadorian Independiente del Valle’s turn to beat São Paulo 2-0, with one of the goals scored by Lautaro Días, an Argentine striker who currently plays for Santos.
The last time a Brazilian won the tournament title was in 2021, when Athletico-PR beat Red Bull Bragantino, in the first and only Brazilian final of the Copa Sudamericana so far.
Brazilian teams beat Argentine teams in the final of the competition only twice: in 2008, when Internacional beat Estudiantes, and in 2012, when São Paulo beat Tigre.
Lanús, Atlético’s opponent in this Saturday’s final, already won the title in 2013, when they beat Ponte Preta 3-1 on aggregate.
Ranked first in its group, the team eliminated Central Córdoba, from Argentina, in the round of 16, Fluminense, in the quarterfinals, and Universidad de Chile, in the semifinals.
Atlético’s best campaign was the semi-finals in 2019, when they were eliminated by the Argentine team Colón, on penalties.
In the 2025 edition, the team from Minas Gerais finished second in the group stage, behind Cienciano, from Peru, and had to go through the playoffs, eliminating Atlético Bucaramanga, from Colombia, on penalties.
Afterwards, he passed through Godoy Cruz, from Argentina, Bolívar, from Bolivia, and Independiente del Valle.
Argentine coach Jorge Sampaoli led the last training session for the black and white team from Minas Gerais this Friday morning (21) at the Libertad stadium, in the Paraguayan capital. In 19 matches since his return to command the team, Sampaoli has not yet changed his lineup and must maintain his standard for the final.
Paraguayan defender Junior Alonso, who was with his country’s team for November’s FIFA Date, should return to the starting lineup, forming the defense alongside Vitor Hugo, with Renzo Saravia and Ruan Tressoldi competing for the last spot.
On the right wing, Sampaoli can play Rony or Gustavo Scarpa, with the attacking trio formed by Dudu, Bernard and Hulk — the team’s top scorer in the tournament, with four goals.
“We have the opportunity to continue writing beautiful stories and achievements, both collective and individual. It’s always special. Especially when it’s an unprecedented episode”, said Hulk, who could win his first international title with Atlético.
On the Lanús side, the team’s highlights are offensive midfielder Marcelino Moreno —who played for Coritiba— and left winger Dylan Aquino, both with three goals in the competition.
The champion will pocket US$6.5 million (R$35 million), in addition to a place in the 2026 Copa Libertadores, with US$2 million (R$10.8 million) allocated to the runner-up.
Atlético and Lanús faced each other four times in official games, with three wins for the Brazilian team and one draw.
The teams have already played in two finals, in 1997, when Atlético won 5-2 on aggregate to win the Copa Conmebol trophy, in a decision marked by a fight between the players; and in 2014, when the team from Minas Gerais won again, 5-3, in the Recopa Sul-Americana decision.
File: Atlético-MG x Lanús
Competition: South American Cup Final
Stadium: Defenders of the Chaco, in Asunción
Arbitrator: Piero Maza (CHI)
Time: 5pm (Brasília time)
Atlético-MG: Everson; Renzo Saravia (Ruan Tressoldi), Junior Alonso and Vitor Hugo; Gustavo Scarpa, Alexsander, Igor Gomes and Guilherme Arana; Dudu, Bernard and Hulk
Technical: Jorge Sampaoli
Lanus: Nahuel Losada; Gonzalo Pérez, Carlos Izquierdoz, José Canale and Sasha Marcich; Agustín Cardozo, Agustín Medina, Eduardo Salvio, Marcelino Moreno and Ramiro Carrera; Rodrigo Castillo
Technical: Mauricio Pellegrino
South American Cup Champions
2002 – San Lorenzo (ARG)
2003 – Cienciano (PER)
2004 – Boca Juniors (ARG)
2005 – Boca Juniors (ARG)
2006 – Pachuca (MEX)
2007 – Sarandi Arsenal (ARG)
2008 – International (BRA)
2009 – LSU (EQU)
2010 – Independent (ARG)
2011 – University of Chile (CHI)
2012 – São Paulo (BRA)
2013 – Lanús (ARG)
2014 – River Plate (ARG)
2015 – Santa Fe (COL)
2016 – Chapecoense (BRA)
2017 – Independent (ARG)
2018 – Athletico-PR (BRA)
2019 – Independent of the Valley (EQU)
2020 – Defense and Justice (ARG)
2021 – Athletico-PR (BRA)
2022 – Independent of the Valley (EQU)
2023 – LSU (EQU)
2024 – Racing (ARG)
