Atlético Mineiro thrashes São Paulo and advances to the quarterfinals.

Atlético.com.br - Undeniably, Atlético Mineiro advanced to the quarterfinals of the Copa Bridgestone Libertadores de América by defeating São Paulo 4-1 on Wednesday night at Arena Independência in Belo Horizonte.

The goals were scored by Jô (3) and Diego Tardelli. This was Galo's 3rd victory over the Morumbi team in the competition, where Atlético won seven of the eight matches they played.

In the next phase, Alvinegro will face the winner of the match between Palmeiras and Tijuana, from Mexico. The first leg, played at the Caliente stadium in Tijuana, Mexico, ended in a goalless draw. The return match will take place next Tuesday in São Paulo.

With the resounding victory, Atlético Mineiro reached a streak of 47 unbeaten home games and further solidified its position as the most prolific attack in the Libertadores Cup, with 22 goals.

O JOGO

Atlético Mineiro were dominant from the start and almost opened the scoring just ten seconds into the game. In that play, Jê headed the ball into the penalty area, Ronaldinho flicked it with his heel, and Tardelli laid it off for Jô to shoot over the goal.

A minute later, Ronaldinho was fouled, and he took the free kick himself, hitting the crossbar. At 12 minutes, Richarlyson took a throw-in from the left, Jô deflected it again, and Tardelli tried to finish with a bicycle kick, but it went wide.

In another great play, Ronaldinho passed the ball between Carleto's legs in midfield, and after the play went through Bernard on the left side of the field, Ronaldinho received it back at the edge of the area on the right and was fouled after chipping the ball over Douglas. He himself took the free kick with a low shot, and on the rebound, Réver shot off balance, wide.

Atlético's pressure paid off in the 18th minute when Leandro Donizete won the ball in midfield, passed to Tardelli, who found Bernard at the edge of the box; Bernard was tackled by the defender and Jô scored a beautiful shot into the top corner: Atlético 1 x 0.

Victor made a good save in the 25th minute, and Atlético Mineiro almost scored again after another free kick by Ronaldinho and a deflection by Jô, but Rogério Ceni made another good save.

Diego Tardelli once again created danger with a header, and in the 36th minute, Jô crossed from the left and Bernard shot first-time, but the São Paulo defender cleared the ball almost on the goal line.

In the second half, without any changes, Atlético continued to control the match, and Jô hit the crossbar with a shot from the edge of the area.

Up to the tenth minute of the second half, Atlético Mineiro had taken 12 shots on goal compared to only two by São Paulo, highlighting Atlético Mineiro's superiority.

The third goal almost came after a cross from Tardelli on the right and a deflection by Bernard, but the ball went wide to Rogério Ceni's right.

After a good performance by Victor, Jô was fouled near the penalty area and Ronaldinho took the free kick dangerously, just wide of the post.

In the 17th minute, Jô received a great pass from Leandro Donizete and finished between Rogério Ceni's legs to make it 2-0 for Atlético Mineiro.

Two minutes later, Diego Tardelli took advantage of a back pass from Rafael Tolói and lobbed the ball over Rogério Ceni to make it 3-0: Atlético Mineiro 3-0.

In the 24th minute, Ronaldinho passed the ball to Jô, who scored another beautiful goal, his third of the match and Atlético's fourth: 4-0.

São Paulo pulled one back through Luis Fabiano in the 30th minute, but the celebrations were already in black and white. And they almost got even bigger when Ronaldinho made a great play in the penalty area on the left and nearly scored with a lob.

INFORMATION

Atlético 4 x 1 São Paulo
Reason: Bridgestone Copa Libertadores de América – Round of 16 (second leg)
Date: 8/5/2013
Stadium: Arena Independência
City: Belo Horizonte (MG)
Paid attendance: 19.212
Income: R$ 1.541.350,00
Goals: Jô (18′), (62′) and (69′) Diego Tardelli (64′); Luis Fabiano (75′)
Referee: Roberto Silveira (URU)
Assistants: Carlos Pastorino (URU) and Gabriel Popovits (URU)
Yellow cards: Leandro Donizete, Diego Tardelli and Ronaldinho Gaúcho (Atlético-MG); Denilson, Jadson and Maicon (São Paulo)
Red cards: Rosinei (Atlético-MG); Carleto (São Paulo)

Aletico
Victor; Marcos Rocha, Réver, Gilberto Silva and Richarlyson; Pierre, Leandro Donizete (Josué), Ronaldinho and Tardelli (Rosinei); Bernard (Luan) and Jô. Coach: Cuca

São Paulo
Rogério Ceni; Paulo Miranda (Silvinho), Rafael Toloi, Edson Silva and Carleto; Wellington, Denilson (Ademilson), Jadson (Maicon) and Ganso; Douglas and Luis Fabiano. Coach: Ney Franco