- The 'Galo' won Group B with 10 points after a dramatic late surge in the final two matchdays and will face Red Bull Bragantino: the first leg will be played in Bragança Paulista on August 12, with the return fixture at Arena MRV on August 19.
- Runners-up in the 2025 CONMEBOL Sudamericana, Atlético Mineiro return to the knockout stage with Eduardo Domínguez as head coach, Renan Lodi as one of their standout players and Bernard as both leading scorer and symbol of their pursuit of redemption.
Atlético Mineiro still carry the memory 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, the 'Galo' return to the knockout stage determined to make amends for the way that campaign ended.
Their path through Group B was far from straightforward. The Brazilian side began with a 2-1 defeat to Academia Puerto Cabello in Venezuela, responded with victory over Juventud at Arena MRV and then lost again, this time to Cienciano at altitude in Cusco. They later surrendered a two-goal lead in Montevideo and entered the final two matchdays with only four points, outside the qualification places.
The response came when there was no longer any margin for error: a 2-0 win over Cienciano followed by a 1-0 victory against Puerto Cabello, both in Belo Horizonte and both with clean sheets. Those six points lifted Eduardo Domínguez’s side to the top of the group with 10 points, three wins, one draw and two defeats, as well as eight goals scored and six conceded.
Bernard was the man for the decisive moments. He scored three times, found the net on each of the final two matchdays and sealed first place with a left-footed strike from outside the box. Around him, Renan Lodi grew into a decisive presence on the left, while Tomás Cuello contributed four assists during the Group Stage.
Their Round of 16 opponents will be Red Bull Bragantino, runners-up in Group H and through after defeating Sporting Cristal 1-0 on aggregate in the Round of 16 Playoffs. The 'Massa Bruta' have already beaten Atlético Mineiro 1-0 in Bragança Paulista in the 2026 Brasileirão, at the same venue where the continental tie will begin.
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' 1H —assisted by Robinson Flores—, and Jiovany Ramos, 39' 1H —assisted by Roberto Rosales— / Dudu, 27' 1H.
Matchday 2: Atlético Mineiro 2-1 Juventud
Bernard, 43' 1H, and Mateo Cassierra, 45' 2H —both assisted by Tomás Cuello— / Facundo Pérez, 10' 2H.
Matchday 3: Cienciano 1-0 Atlético Mineiro
Neri Bandiera, 30' 1H —assisted by Gerson Barreto—.
Matchday 4: Juventud 2-2 Atlético Mineiro
Pablo Lago, 33' 2H —assisted by Alejo Cruz—, and Marcelo Pérez, 42' 2H —assisted by Rodrigo Chagas— / Alan Minda, 37' 1H, and Vitor Hugo, 32' 2H —assisted by Gustavo Scarpa—.
Matchday 5: Atlético Mineiro 2-0 Cienciano
Renan Lodi, 27' 1H, and Bernard, 39' 1H —both assisted by Tomás Cuello—.
Matchday 6: Atlético Mineiro 1-0 Academia Puerto Cabello
Bernard, 17' 2H.
Final position: First in Group B with 10 points — three wins, one draw, two defeats, eight goals scored and six conceded.
CONMEBOL Sudamericana Round of 16
First Leg: Red Bull Bragantino vs. Atlético Mineiro — Wednesday, August 12, 7:00 p.m., Cícero de Souza Marques Stadium, Bragança Paulista.
Second Leg: Atlético Mineiro vs. Red Bull Bragantino — Wednesday, August 19, 7:00 p.m., Arena MRV, Belo Horizonte.
Atlético Mineiro 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 therefore oversaw all six matches of the Group Stage.
Domínguez moved to Brazil after building one of the most successful recent eras in Estudiantes de La Plata’s history. He won the 2023 Copa Argentina, the 2024 Copa de la Liga, the 2024 and 2025 Trofeo de Campeones titles and the 2025 Clausura. He had also previously guided Colón de Santa Fe to their first top-flight title, the 2021 Copa de la Liga.
His first semester at Atlético Mineiro brought mixed results: the team finished runners-up in the state championship and collected only four points from their opening four continental matches. The response came through a more compact side, with Renan Lodi and Natanael providing width, Alan Franco and Maycon bringing balance to midfield, and Bernard operating behind the centre-forward.
The consecutive victories over Cienciano and Puerto Cabello showed the quality Domínguez is looking to establish: a patient Atlético side capable of handling pressure and finding solutions without losing its structure. In an all-Brazilian tie likely to be decided by fine margins, that maturity will be every bit as important as individual talent.
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 Key Player in the 2026 CONMEBOL Sudamericana: Renan Lodi
The left-back arrived to take on a position of major responsibility and quickly became one of the team’s key figures. His influence goes well beyond his defensive work: he provides constant attacking depth, breaks lines with his ball-carrying and appears in finishing areas almost like an additional midfielder.
His goal against Cienciano opened the match that sparked the 'Galo’s' comeback in Group B. Lodi attacked the space behind the defence, received the ball from Tomás Cuello and finished a move that perfectly summed up his main strength: turning progression down the flank into a direct threat inside the penalty area.
With experience at Atlético de Madrid, Nottingham Forest, Olympique de Marseille, Al-Hilal and with the Brazil national team, he also took over the No. 6 shirt vacated by Júnior Alonso. Against a Bragantino side that presses aggressively and forces quick decisions, his ability to break free down the left will be one of the keys for Domínguez’s team.
Atlético Mineiro Top Scorer in the 2026 CONMEBOL Sudamericana: Bernard
Bernard scored three of Atlético Mineiro’s eight goals in the Group Stage. He opened the scoring in the win over Juventud and found the net in each of the final two matchdays: first against Cienciano and then versus Puerto Cabello, when a left-footed strike 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 youth system, he won the CONMEBOL Libertadores in 2013 before building a long career with Shakhtar Donetsk, Everton and Panathinaikos. His return has revealed a different version of the player: less of a pure winger and more of a playmaker, with the freedom to operate between opposition midfielders.
With Hulk leaving the club during the semester, Bernard inherited much of the team’s attacking and emotional leadership. He does not need to be constantly involved to change a match; one clean touch near the penalty area can be enough. In a tight knockout tie, that ability to turn an isolated moment into a goal could prove decisive.
Atlético Mineiro Factor X in the 2026 CONMEBOL Sudamericana: Tomás Cuello
Four of the 'Galo’s' eight goals in the Group Stage came from Tomás Cuello assists. The winger set up Bernard and Cassierra in the 2-1 win over Juventud, then repeated the formula by assisting Renan Lodi and Bernard in the 2-0 victory against Cienciano.
Cuello can start from either flank, but his greatest value appears when he receives with space to accelerate. His change of pace stretches the pitch, forces opposing full-backs to retreat and opens passing lanes for the forward runs of Bernard and Lodi.
Bragantino tend to defend on the front foot and take risks in order to regain possession quickly. If Mineiro can play through that initial pressure, Cuello will find the type of scenario that suits him best: open space, defenders running back towards their own goal and teammates arriving in the box.
Atlético Mineiro 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: the 'Galo' had also lost the 2024 CONMEBOL Libertadores Final to Botafogo. Two consecutive continental final defeats explain why the 2026 CONMEBOL Sudamericana carries such importance for the Brazilian side.
Their international honours list, however, already carries considerable weight. Mineiro won the Copa CONMEBOL in 1992 and 1997, the CONMEBOL Libertadores in 2013 and the CONMEBOL Recopa in 2014. They also reached the Semi-finals of the CONMEBOL Sudamericana in 2019 before playing their first Final six years later.
