Atlético Mineiro shone once again in Belo Horizonte, securing their place in the Copa Sudamericana final after a 3–1 victory over Independiente del Valle. The Brazilian side delivered a convincing performance, but it was a spectacular goal from Hulk in the closing stages that ultimately sealed the tie and booked the “Galo’s” ticket to the continental final on November 22 in Asunción.

A Dominant First Half in Belo Horizonte

Under Argentine coach Jorge Sampaoli, Atlético Mineiro came out determined to dictate the pace from the opening whistle. After a 1–1 draw in the first leg in Quito, the Brazilians knew that a home win would be enough to advance. From the start, the Belo Horizonte side pressed high and relentlessly, constantly threatening Guido Villar’s goal.

Their dominance soon showed on the scoreboard in the 35th minute, when Guilherme Arana opened the scoring after a chaotic sequence in the box that Dudu turned into an assist with a precise pass. Just seven minutes later, Dudu was once again the provider, setting up Bernard, who finished with class to make it 2–0 and put Atlético firmly on the path to the final.

On the other side, Independiente del Valle—missing key players Andy Velasco and Juan Cazares—failed to find their rhythm. Despite attempts to react in the second half, the Ecuadorian side looked disconnected and lacked attacking depth.

Hulk Delivers the Final Blow

With Atlético Mineiro managing their lead and the visitors pushing forward, the tempo shifted after the break. In the 63rd minute, Argentine forward Claudio Spinelli capitalized on a rebound from goalkeeper Everson following a shot by Arroyo, pulling one back for the Ecuadorians and momentarily restoring some hope.

But that hope was short-lived. In the 74th minute, Hulk—who had come off the bench—finished off a lethal counterattack with a stunning strike. After a long pass from Junior Alonso, the veteran striker controlled the ball with power and precision before firing a low shot across goal to make it 3–1. The stadium erupted as the captain celebrated with his trademark power pose that has defined his career.

That goal not only closed out the match but also symbolized Atlético Mineiro’s strength and experience. The team will now travel to Asunción in search of their first international trophy since the 2013 Copa Libertadores. With Hulk as their talisman and Sampaoli on the sidelines, the “Galo” heads into the Copa Sudamericana final full of confidence and dreaming of continental glory once again.