Atlético Mineiro surged toward the 2026 Copa Sudamericana final, crushing Montevideo City Torque 3‑0 at home in the first‑leg semifinal. Can anyone halt their momentum?
Reinier struck in the 37th minute, Bernard added a second five minutes later, and Uruguay’s Thiago Borbas capped the night in the 80th, putting Galo on the brink of a November 21 final in Barranquilla.
Fueled by a thunderous crowd, Mineiro seized possession early and dictated play, while Torque’s compact defence limited early openings.
Torque’s lone danger came in the 34th minute when Salomón Rodríguez headed wide, only for Delfim to make a spectacular save inside the MRV Arena.
The Galo response arrived swiftly and decisively.
In the 37th, Tomás Cuello gathered the ball midway and, with a deft touch, set up his marker.
Facing the opponent’s goal, the Argentine slipped a pass into the box to Victor Hugo, whose assist found Reinier, who calmly opened the scoring.
Before halftime, Bernard unleashed a brilliant solo effort to double the lead.
After intercepting a pass, he sprinted toward the Uruguayan net, linked with Reinier, cut inside the arc and fired a placed shot for 2‑0.
It marked Bernard’s fourth goal in his last five games, a 34‑year‑old academy product and the sole remaining member of the 2013 Libertadores‑winning squad.
The second half mirrored the first, with Mineiro retaining control against a disciplined opponent.
Pressing on, Mineiro earned a reward in the 80th minute: a swift move ended with Renan Lodi’s low cross from the left, and Borbas timed his run to slot it home.
With a three‑goal cushion, Mineiro will head to Montevideo’s Estadio Centenario for the return leg, already booked for the final.
Kevin Castaño is performing at an elite level
If any player has revived this second half of 2026, it’s Kevin Castaño. The 26‑year‑old Colombian midfielder has dominated Atlético Mineiro’s midfield since joining after the 2026 World Cup. For my money, Castaño is the midfield engine this team needed. His stint at River Plate earlier this year yielded just over 200 minutes in six months, with no injuries, yet he never fit into Eduardo “Chacho” Coudet’s plans.
The Torque clash showcased his form. Castaño logged the full 90 minutes, partnering Maycon in the double‑pivot. He completed 95 of 99 passes (96%), led the team with 54 forward passes, ranked second in defensive contributions with seven, and fired a lone shot that the keeper easily saved. Sofascore awarded him a 7.5 rating.
Read also: “They have amnesia”: Jhon Arias after beating Palmeiras in the Libertadores semifinal against his former club, Fluminense
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Q&A Section
- ¿Cómo ha sido el rendimiento y los números recientes de Kevin Castaño en el Atlético Mineiro?
- Tras un primer semestre de 2026 con escasa participación en River Plate (poco más de 200 minutos), Kevin Castaño se adueñó del mediocampo del Atlético Mineiro tras el Mundial. En el partido de ida ante Montevideo City Torque jugó los 90 minutos, logrando una efectividad de 95 pases correctos de 99 intentados (96%), siendo el líder de su equipo en pases en campo rival (54), aportando 7 contribuciones defensivas y obteniendo una calificación de 7,5 según Sofascore.
- ¿Qué rol histórico cumple Bernard dentro de la actual plantilla del Atlético Mineiro?
- Formado en las divisiones inferiores del club, Bernard es actualmente el único jugador sobreviviente de la plantilla del Atlético Mineiro que se consagró campeón de la Copa Libertadores en el año 2013.
- ¿Cuál fue el paso previo de Kevin Castaño por River Plate antes de llegar al fútbol brasileño?
- Durante el primer semestre de 2026, Kevin Castaño militó en River Plate bajo las órdenes de Eduardo “Chacho” Coudet; sin embargo, su paso fue prácticamente nulo al disputar poco más de 200 minutos en seis meses debido a decisiones técnicas, ya que no sufrió ninguna lesión.