Atletico Mineiro has taken a significant step towards the Copa Libertadores final by defeating Argentina’s River Plate 3-0 in the opening leg of their semifinal match, held on Tuesday in Belo Horizonte.

Striker Deyverson was instrumental in the victory, scoring the first goal in the 22nd minute after skillfully maneuvering past goalkeeper Franco Armani. He increased his team’s lead with a second goal in the 70th minute, striking a well-placed cross shot. Just four minutes later, Paulinho further solidified Atletico’s advantage by finding the back of the net.

This win brings Atletico Mineiro closer to a chance at claiming the Copa Libertadores trophy for the second time in their history, having previously won the esteemed tournament in 2013.

On another note, Brazil’s Botafogo is set to compete against Uruguay’s Peñarol in the first leg of their semifinal, scheduled for Wednesday in Rio de Janeiro.

In recent years, Brazilian teams have dominated the Copa Libertadores, winning the championship for the last five seasons. The tournament final is slated to take place on November 30 at the Monumental de Nunez Stadium in Buenos Aires, where the culmination of the competition will unfold.