Atlético-MG Falls to Lanús in Dramatic Penalty Shootout, Securing Runner-Up in 2025 Sul-Americana
Atlético-MG lost the 2025 Sul-Americana final to Lanús in a 5-4 penalty shootout after a 0-0 draw, marking the fourth straight runner-up finish for Brazilian teams.
- • Atlético-MG lost 5-4 on penalties to Lanús after a 0-0 draw in the 2025 Sul-Americana final.
- • Lanús secured their second consecutive title and a $6.5 million prize.
- • Brazilian teams have finished as runners-up in the last four Sul-Americana finals against foreign clubs.
- • Atlético-MG missed key penalty attempts from Hulk, Biel, and Vitor Hugo.
- • Atlético-MG's quest for its first international trophy continues despite strong chances in the match.
Key details
On November 22, 2025, Atlético-MG faced Club Atlético Lanús in the final of the Copa Sul-Americana, held at the Defensores del Chaco stadium in Asunción, Paraguay. The match ended in a tense 0-0 draw after 120 minutes of play, marked by strong defensive efforts and missed opportunities from Atlético-MG, including notable chances by player Biel during extra time. Although Atlético-MG created better scoring chances, they failed to convert any goals, with key players Hulk, Biel, and Vitor Hugo missing their penalties in the shootout.
The match proceeded to penalties where Lanús ultimately triumphed 5-4, clinching their second consecutive Sul-Americana title and a $6.5 million prize, as well as a spot in the next Conmebol Libertadores. Atlético-MG, meanwhile, received $2 million for their runner-up finish but were left disappointed in their quest for a first international trophy.
This defeat marks the fourth consecutive occasion that a Brazilian team has finished as runner-up in the tournament, continuing a challenging streak against foreign clubs, particularly Argentine teams. In recent years, Brazilian teams such as Cruzeiro (lost to Racing in 2024), Fortaleza (defeated by LDU in 2023), São Paulo (runner-up to Independiente del Valle in 2022), and Red Bull Bragantino (second to Athletico-PR in 2021) have similarly fallen short in the Sul-Americana final.
While Atlético-MG has no international title from this campaign, their recent 3-3 draw against Fortaleza in the Brasileirão saw Deyverson achieve a hat-trick, highlighting ongoing competitive efforts in domestic play despite slipping to ninth place in the league standings.
The final underscores a continuing pattern of near success but ultimate disappointment for Brazilian clubs in this prestigious South American competition, particularly against Argentine opposition.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.