Belo Horizonte (Brazil) (AFP)
Atlético Mineiro easily qualified for the semi-finals of the Copa Libertadores, beating Marcelo Gallardo's River Plate 3-0 on Wednesday in Belo Horizonte, and Flamengo did the same by outclassing Olimpia (5-1) .
The two Brazilian clubs have been able to count on attackers in great shape.
The first, who had already won 1-0 in Buenos Aires in a first leg ended by incidents, was well helped by Hulk, author of the decisive pass on the first goal of the Argentinian Matías Zaracho (22nd).
The 35-year-old Brazilian international doubled the bet (34th) on a lightning counterattack concluded with a superb shot.
His seventh in this campaign for the Libertadores, three behind the top scorer, Gabriel Barbosa, alias "Gabigol", of Flamengo.
Zaracho then delivered the final blow (62nd), with a header, and Atlético Mineiro will therefore play his first Libertadores semi-final since 2013, the year of his only victory in the South American Champions League.
It will be against Palmeiras, which already ensures the presence of a Brazilian club in the final.
Atlético Mineiro's Argentine midfielder Federico Zaracho, congratulated by his teammates, after scoring the last victory goal (3-0) against Argentinian club River Plate, in the quarter-final second leg of the Copa Libertadores , August 18, 2021 in Belo Horizonte BRUNA PRADO POOL / AFP
There will be at least one more in the semi-finals, as Giorgian de Arrascaeta, the Uruguayan midfielder, also in great shape, made Flamengo qualify even more easily, pulverizing the Olimpia d'Asuncion ( 5-1), Wednesday in Brasilia, in front of 11,200 spectators.
Flamengo striker Gabriel Barbosa jumps into the arms of his coach Renato Gaucho, after his goal against Paraguayan club Olimpia, in the Copa Libertadores quarter-final second leg, on August 18, 2021 at the Mane Garrincha Stadium in Brasilia ADRIANO MACHADO POOL / AFP
In the semi-final, Flamengo will meet the winner of the last quarter-final, whose second leg is scheduled for Thursday between Fluminense and Ecuadorian club SC Barcelona.
The first leg in Brazil ended with a 2-2 which leaves the suspense intact.
With the added bonus of seeing four Brazilian clubs in the semi-finals of the Libertadores 2021.
© 2021 AFP