Botafogo stuns Atlético-MG to claim historic Libertadores title with 10 players

Botafogo won its first-ever CONMEBOL Libertadores title with a historic 3-1 win over Atlético-MG at Monumental de Núñez in Buenos Aires. Botafogo proved that night-time drama of red cards, goals, relentless pressure, and a breathtaking finish-can easily go hand in hand.

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A dramatic beginning

The match had barely started when Botafogo found themselves at the first significant crossroads. Gregore was sent off in only 35 seconds into the game, leaving his team with 10 players for almost all of the match. Such a numerical disadvantage seemed to be just the right recipe for disaster. However, Botafogo found strength where many doubted it would.

The breakthrough came in the 35th minute when Luiz Henrique completed a well-worked move down the left to open the scoring. Undeterred by taking the lead, Botafogo didn't hold back. Shortly afterwards, Luiz Henrique won a penalty, and Alex Telles converted with precision, doubling the lead before halftime.

Atlético-MG's pressure

In the second half, changes by Atlético-MG's coach Gabriel Milito paid off almost immediately. Vargas scored with a header in the 47th minute, re-igniting Atlético's hopes. Led by Hulk, Atlético-MG created a number of dangerous chances but was consistently denied by Botafogo's defense and the steady hands of goalkeeper John.

As the match neared its conclusion, Atlético turned up the heat, but it was Botafogo that sealed the deal. Substitute Júnior Santos scored the decisive third goal deep in stoppage time in a chaotic moment. The shout of "champion" echoed through the Monumental on what was the most glorious night in Botafogo's history.

A journey of resilience

This title didn't come easy. Since the preliminary rounds, Botafogo showed it was ready for big challenges. It started its campaign against Aurora with an authoritative performance, then eliminated Bragantino to join Group D, facing Junior Barranquilla, LDU, and Universitario.

Worse, the knockout stages were no joke at all. It beat powerhouse teams like Palmeiras and São Paulo, along with Peñarol, by some huge scores away from home and the 5-0 routing of Peñarol in the Nilton Santos Stadium.

The account finally reads for the campaign: 17 games, 8 wins, 6 draws, 3 losses, 31 goals scored, 17 conceded.

Historical wins

• Botafogo's victory brought with it a shower of incredible statistics and records. The club won their maiden Libertadores to become the 27th different winner and the 12th from Brazil. Brazil now have 24 Libertadores titles-just one shy of Argentina.
• Júnior Santos finished as the top scorer in the campaign with 10 goals, having been decisive in the tournament.
• Coach Artur Jorge made history as the third Portuguese manager to win the Libertadores, following Jorge Jesus, with Flamengo in 2019, and Abel Ferreira, with Palmeiras in 2020 and 2021. Botafogo also made history as the first team to win a Libertadores final after playing almost the entire match with fewer players than the opposition.

Beyond the title

With this victory, Botafogo secured a spot in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup and will represent South America in the Intercontinental Cup against Pachuca in December in Qatar. This win will be remembered for all time as a witness to the team's grit and determination to overcome adversity.