The 1-1 draw with Cruzeiro, this Thursday (30), ended Athletico’s fight for a place in Libertadores 2024. With 53 points won, Rubro-Negro no longer has a chance of reaching the G6 of the Championship Brazilian.
In the last two rounds, the objective will be to maintain eighth place in the table and secure a direct place in the third phase of the Copa do Brasil. On the international calendar, Furacão will have Sudamericana next year.
The next match is scheduled for next Sunday (3), against Santos, at the Ligga Arena. The last round of the Brasileirão takes place on Wednesday (6), with Athletico facing Cuiabá, at the opponent’s home.
READ MORE
++ Germán Cano reaches 40 goals for the second year in a row
++ Lucas Paquetá’s West Ham earns key UEL victory
++ João Pedro, Brighton’s hero against AEK Athens
In the fight against relegation, Cruzeiro sought victory at all costs. Launching themselves into the attack, the Minas Gerais team pressed, but were hampered by an exquisite performance from goalkeeper Bento. There were two miraculous saves in the first half. The first of them, complemented by Cacá saving on the line after the rebound.
For Athletico, the best chance came in the 43rd minute, when Willian recovered the ball in the attack, came face to face with the goalkeeper, but stopped in Rafael Cabral’s defense.
At the beginning of the second stage, Rubro-Negro gave up fewer opportunities to the opponent. And at 19′, he took advantage of his chance and took the lead on the scoreboard. Fernandinho launched it into the area, Erick headed it into the middle and there was Vitor Roque to send it into the net.
From then on, Cruzeiro started to press again. At 28′, Matheus Pereira fell in the area in a dispute with Erick and the referee awarded a penalty. Bruno Rodrigues went to charge. But he bumped into Bento once again, a giant in the athletic field.
But, at 39′, he had no way of avoiding the draw. Nikão played for Matheus Pereira, who hit from the half-moon. The ball still deflected and entered the angle, defining the score at 1-1 at Mineirão.
