- ‘Galo’ defeated Red Bull Bragantino 3-2 on aggregate to advance to the CONMEBOL Sudamericana Quarter-finals, where they will face Santos.
- Runners-up in 2025, Atlético Mineiro continue their pursuit of redemption under Eduardo Domínguez, with Tomás Cuello emerging as one of the key figures of the knockout stage.
Atlético Mineiro still have fresh memories of their defeat in Asunción: in November 2025, they drew 0-0 with Lanús after 120 minutes before losing the CONMEBOL Sudamericana Final on penalties. Nine months later, ‘Galo’ remain in contention to make amends for that outcome and have once again established themselves among the final eight of La Gran Conquista.
Their path has not been straightforward. The team endured an inconsistent start in Group B and entered the final two matchdays with just four points and outside the qualification places. Back-to-back victories over Cienciano and Academia Puerto Cabello allowed them to recover in time, reach 10 points and finish top of the group.
The tie against Red Bull Bragantino demanded another response. Atlético won 1-0 in Bragança Paulista and returned to the Arena MRV with an advantage, but the second leg proved far more complicated: the visitors took the lead twice and entered stoppage time 2-1 ahead, a scoreline that would have sent the tie to penalties.
Then Tomás Cuello stepped up again. The Argentine won the ball back high up the pitch and scored the 2-2 equaliser that sealed a 3-2 aggregate victory. He had also scored the only goal of the first leg and finished the Round of 16 directly involved in two of ‘Galo’s’ three goals. Everson was also crucial, producing key saves that prevented Bragantino from extending their lead during the return match.
Their next challenge will be Santos, who eliminated Macará to also reach the Quarter-finals. Atlético Mineiro are now three ties away from turning the frustration of 2025 into redemption: after surviving an uneven Group Stage and a Round of 16 decided late on, they are once again among the contenders to reach Barranquilla.
Atlético Mineiro in the 2026 CONMEBOL Sudamericana: Results and Schedule
CONMEBOL Sudamericana Group Stage — Group B
Matchday 1: Academia Puerto Cabello 2-1 Atlético Mineiro
Jean Franco Castillo, 16' PT —assist by Robinson Flores—, and Jiovany Ramos, 39' PT —assist by Roberto Rosales— / Dudu, 27' PT.
Matchday 2: Atlético Mineiro 2-1 Juventud
Bernard, 43' PT, and Mateo Cassierra, 45' ST —both assisted by Tomás Cuello— / Facundo Pérez, 10' ST.
Matchday 3: Cienciano 1-0 Atlético Mineiro
Neri Bandiera, 30' PT —assist by Gerson Barreto—.
Matchday 4: Juventud 2-2 Atlético Mineiro
Pablo Lago, 33' ST —assist by Alejo Cruz—, and Marcelo Pérez, 42' ST —assist by Rodrigo Chagas— / Alan Minda, 37' PT, and Vitor Hugo, 32' ST —assist by Gustavo Scarpa—.
Matchday 5: Atlético Mineiro 2-0 Cienciano
Renan Lodi, 27' PT, and Bernard, 39' PT —both assisted by Tomás Cuello—.
Matchday 6: Atlético Mineiro 1-0 Academia Puerto Cabello
Bernard, 17' ST.
Final position: Group B winners with 10 points —three wins, one draw and two defeats, with eight goals scored and six conceded—.
CONMEBOL Sudamericana Round of 16
First Leg: Red Bull Bragantino 0-1 Atlético Mineiro
Tomás Cuello, 28' ST.
Second Leg: Atlético Mineiro 2-2 Red Bull Bragantino
Maycon, 7' ST, and Tomás Cuello, 45+2' ST / Eric Ramires, 45' PT, and Eduardo Sasha, 36' ST. Atlético Mineiro advanced 3-2 on aggregate.
Atlético Mineiro Head Coach in the 2026 CONMEBOL Sudamericana: Eduardo Domínguez
The Argentine coach arrived in Belo Horizonte on February 24 to replace Jorge Sampaoli and signed a contract through December 2027. He took charge before the start of the CONMEBOL Sudamericana and has therefore led the team throughout a campaign that has already taken them into the final eight of the competition.
Domínguez arrived in Brazil after building one of the most successful spells in Estudiantes de La Plata’s recent history. He won the 2023 Copa Argentina, the 2024 Copa de la Liga, the 2024 and 2025 Trofeo de Campeones, and the 2025 Torneo Clausura. He had previously guided Colón de Santa Fe to the first top-flight title in the club’s history, the 2021 Copa de la Liga.
His first continental campaign with ‘Galo’ has demanded resilience. After collecting just four points from their opening four Group Stage matches, Atlético won their final two fixtures to finish top of Group B. In the Round of 16, they responded under pressure once again: they defeated Red Bull Bragantino 1-0 away from home and, in the second leg, fell behind twice before salvaging a 2-2 draw through a stoppage-time goal from Tomás Cuello to complete a 3-2 aggregate victory.
Domínguez’s side are now in the Quarter-finals, where they will face Santos. The tie presents another test of the approach the coach has gradually established throughout the tournament: an Atlético side capable of navigating difficult moments without losing their structure and finding solutions when the margin for error becomes minimal.
Full Atlético Mineiro Squad for the 2026 CONMEBOL Sudamericana
Goalkeepers: 1. Cleiton Schwengber - 18. Tiago Volpi - 24. Fernando Pires - 37. Fabricio Oliveira - 50. João Montes - 56. Gustavo Reis.
Defenders: 2. Guzman Rodriguez - 3. Eduardo Gonzaga Mendes - 4. Alix De Souza - 12. Vanderlan Barbosa - 14. Pedro Ribeiro - 16. Gustavo Alves - 23. Ariel Sant'anna - 29. Luis Da Rocha - 34. Jose Hurtado - 46. Breno De Moraes - 51. Cauê Nascimento - 52. Ryan Tavares - 53. Edgar Gonzalez - 54. Weimar Vivas.
Midfielders: 5. Fabio Silva - 6. Gabriel Girotto - 7. Eric Dos Santos - 15. Ignacio Sosa - 19. Bruno De Jesus - 20. Rodrigo Almeida - 22. Gustavo Ribeiro - 35. Matheus Fernandes - 41. Yuri Alves - 55. Chrystian Delfino - 57. Marcelo Braz - 58. Gabriel Da Silva - 61. Rafael Da Silva - 62. Marcos Krysgman.
Forwards: 8. Eduardo Colcenti - 9. Isidro Pitta - 11. Fernando Dos Santos - 17. Vinicius Mendonça - 21. Lucas Barbosa - 27. Davi Gomes - 28. Yuri Silva Leles - 30. Henry Mosquera - 32. Jose Herrera - 49. Luis Gustavo Lucio Antonio - 59. Filipe Rios - 67. Jhuan Nunes.
Atlético Mineiro’s Key Player in the 2026 CONMEBOL Sudamericana: Renan Lodi
The left-back arrived to take on a position of major responsibility and quickly established himself as one of the team’s key figures. His influence goes beyond defensive work: he provides constant width in attack, breaks lines with his carrying and arrives in scoring positions almost like an additional midfielder.
His goal against Cienciano opened the match that sparked ‘Galo’s’ comeback in Group B. Lodi attacked the space behind the defence, received from Tomás Cuello and finished a move that perfectly summed up his main strength: turning an advance down the flank into a direct threat inside the box. That response ultimately helped Atlético Mineiro climb to the top of the group.
With experience at Atlético de Madrid, Nottingham Forest, Olympique de Marseille, Al-Hilal and with the Brazilian national team, he also took over the No. 6 shirt left vacant by Júnior Alonso. Atlético have already eliminated Red Bull Bragantino 3-2 on aggregate and will face Santos in the Quarter-finals. In another all-Brazilian tie likely to be decided by fine margins, Lodi’s depth and ability to turn the left flank into an attacking route will once again be one of Eduardo Domínguez’s main weapons.
Atlético Mineiro’s Top Scorer in the 2026 CONMEBOL Sudamericana: Bernard
Bernard remains Atlético Mineiro’s leading scorer in the 2026 CONMEBOL Sudamericana, with three goals. He opened the scoring in the win over Juventud and found the net in each of the final two Group Stage matches: first against Cienciano and then against Puerto Cabello, when a shot from outside the box secured qualification and top spot in the group.
The No. 11 holds a special place in the club’s recent identity. A product of Atlético’s academy, he was part of the team that won the 2013 CONMEBOL Libertadores before going on to build an extensive career with Shakhtar Donetsk, Everton and Panathinaikos. His return has revealed a different version of the player: less of a traditional winger and more of a playmaker, with freedom to operate between opposition midfield lines.
He did not add to his tally in the Round of 16, but Atlético Mineiro found other ways to overcome Red Bull Bragantino. Tomás Cuello scored the only goal of the first leg and struck again in stoppage time in the return match to make it 2-2 and complete a 3-2 aggregate victory.
Bernard will therefore head into the Quarter-finals against Santos still as ‘Galo’s’ leading scorer in the competition. His experience in decisive matches and his ability to appear in dangerous areas remain important assets for a team looking to turn the disappointment of finishing runners-up in 2025 into another opportunity to challenge for the title.
Atlético Mineiro’s X-Factor in the 2026 CONMEBOL Sudamericana: Tomás Cuello
Tomás Cuello went from being ‘Galo’s’ leading assist provider in the Group Stage to becoming the decisive figure in the Round of 16. Four of Atlético Mineiro’s eight goals in the opening phase had come from his passes; against Red Bull Bragantino, however, he took on the role of finisher.
In the first leg in Bragança Paulista, he scored the only goal in a 1-0 victory that allowed Eduardo Domínguez’s side to return to Belo Horizonte with an advantage. One week later, he stepped up again when the tie appeared headed for penalties: he won the ball back in the opposition half and scored the 2-2 equaliser in stoppage time to seal a 3-2 aggregate victory.
Cuello therefore confirmed that his influence goes far beyond assists. He can start from either flank, accelerate into space and also arrive in goalscoring positions. Atlético Mineiro will face Santos in the Quarter-finals, and the Argentine enters the tie as one of the players who made the biggest impact during ‘Galo’s’ first knockout round.
Atlético Mineiro’s History in the CONMEBOL Sudamericana
Atlético Mineiro are chasing the trophy that slipped away in 2025. After eliminating Atlético Bucaramanga, Godoy Cruz, Bolívar and Independiente del Valle, they drew 0-0 with Lanús in the Final in Asunción before losing 5-4 in the penalty shootout.
That defeat extended a painful sequence: ‘Galo’ had also lost the 2024 CONMEBOL Libertadores Final against Botafogo. Two consecutive continental Finals help explain why the 2026 CONMEBOL Sudamericana carries particular significance for the Brazilian side.
Their international trophy cabinet, however, already carries considerable weight. Mineiro won the Copa CONMEBOL in 1992 and 1997, the 2013 CONMEBOL Libertadores and the 2014 CONMEBOL Recopa. They also reached the Semi-finals of the 2019 CONMEBOL Sudamericana before appearing in their first Final six years later.
The 2026 edition has already taken them back among the continent’s final eight. After winning Group B, Atlético overcame Red Bull Bragantino with a 1-0 away victory and a 2-2 draw in Belo Horizonte to complete a 3-2 aggregate win. They will now face Santos in the Quarter-finals, still with the opportunity to turn the frustration of 2025 into their first La Gran Conquista title.
