Botafogo is the champion of the 2024 Libertadores

Botafogo Played with Ten Men from the First Minute but Overcame Adversity to Beat Atlético-MG 3-1 in the 2024 Libertadores Final, Claiming Their First-Ever Title in South America’s Most Prestigious Competition

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Atlético-MG 1×3 Botafogo

The Libertadores final was held at the Monumental de Núñez Stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Before the match, tennis star Novak Djokovic took to the pitch with the championship trophy.

In the very first minute, Gregore struck Fausto Vera on the head with his studs in a reckless challenge. The Botafogo midfielder was sent off, leaving his team with ten men for nearly the entire match.

Photo: REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian

At 8 minutes, Atlético-MG intercepted the ball and launched a fast counterattack. Hulk unleashed a powerful shot from outside the box, which John parried, and Adryelson cleared the danger.

At 24 minutes, Junior Alonso played a one-two with Arana and crossed into the box. Deyverson controlled the ball but fired wide.

Botafogo broke the deadlock in the 35th minute. Almada charged down the left flank and passed to Luiz Henrique, who went to the byline, cut inside beautifully past Lyanco, and found Marlon Freitas. The midfielder’s shot deflected off a defender, and Luiz Henrique pounced to hammer the ball into the back of the net.

Photo: Vitor Silva/Botafogo

At 41 minutes, Luiz Henrique chased a ball that Arana was shielding for Everson. He got a touch on the ball and was brought down by the goalkeeper. Initially, the referee waved play on, but after consulting VAR, he awarded the penalty. Alex Telles stepped up and smashed the ball powerfully into the corner, extending Botafogo’s lead.

Photo: Botafogo Official

At halftime, Atlético-MG’s coach Gabriel Milito made three substitutions, bringing on Vargas, Mariano, and Bernard for Lyanco, Fausto Vera, and Gustavo Scarpa.

The changes had an immediate impact. Two minutes into the second half, Hulk delivered a corner, and Vargas rose high to head the ball into the top corner.

Photo: Pedro Souza / Atlético

At 8 minutes, Hulk sent in a deep cross, and Deyverson headed just wide of the far post.

At 9 minutes, Hulk received the ball on the right, cut inside, and curled a shot from outside the box. John made the save, tipping it behind for a corner.

At 37 minutes, Hulk displayed individual brilliance, dribbling past defenders before crossing, but no one was there to finish, and the ball rolled out for a goal kick.

At 38 minutes, Arana found space, advanced, and shot with his right foot, but the effort went wide of the target.

At 41 minutes, Mariano delivered a perfect through ball to Vargas, who found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper but skied his shot over the bar.

At 43 minutes, Alan Franco sent a long ball forward. Botafogo’s center-backs miscommunicated, leaving the ball for Vargas. Once again face-to-face with Everson, the Chilean attempted a chip, but it went far off target.

In the 52nd minute, Júnior Santos collected the ball near the corner flag, pulled off a stunning dribble to evade two defenders, and drove into the box. His pass across the face of the goal deflected off Alan Franco and fell kindly back to Júnior Santos, who slotted the ball into the empty net, sealing Botafogo’s historic triumph.

Júnior Santos finished as the Libertadores’ top scorer with 10 goals. Despite a dominant start to the season, he suffered a fractured tibia in a match against Internacional on July 20, 2024. He returned late in the season and capped it off with the decisive goal in the Libertadores final.

Photo: AP/Gustavo Garello

With the title secured, Botafogo celebrated with thousands of fans in Rio de Janeiro. The team’s bus traveled from Galeão Airport to the Mourisco Mar Sports Complex. Upon reaching Botafogo Bay, the area was packed with jubilant supporters dressed in black and white.

Photo: André Durão/ge

 

Written by Henry Miller.