Tomás Cuello decided the classic: 3-1 and Atlético breathes again in the race
Tomás Cuello was the man of the match (rating 9) with a goal and an assist and led Atletico-MG to a 3-1 win over Fluminense; the home side, now 8th with 36 points, sits in the "Promotion - Copa Sudamericana (Group Stage)" zone while the visitor remains 4th with 45.
Atletico-MG
FluminenseA figure who changed the outcome
Tomás Cuello settled the decisive phase: rating 9, a goal (63') and an assist (61') and three key passes. In four minutes he turned a stuck contest into a 2-0 that split Fluminense apart.
This is not flourish: Cuello finished with 3 shots and 3 key passes in the dossier; his direct involvement created the lead Atlético later converted.
Effective dominance despite less ball
Atlético won the chance battle while having 48% possession against the opponent's 52%: local xG 1.90 versus 0.55 for the visitors and 15 shots to 9 explain why control was about chances, not possession.
The minute-by-minute picture confirms it: Atlético dominated from the 30th minute and accumulated 21 minutes of pressure against 9 for Fluminense, with a pressure peak in the 85th minute. Three second-half goals (61', 63', 81') sealed a clear final push for the hosts.
A classic that matters in the table
This was no ordinary match: over 37 previous meetings the record is tight (15-11-11) and today's win reshapes the top fight. Atletico-MG rises to 8th with 36 points and sits in the "Promotion - Copa Sudamericana (Group Stage)" zone; Fluminense remains 4th with 45 points and in Copa Libertadores territory.
A practical truth: collecting three goals and an xG near 2 in a classic is how you climb. The match left one clear stat — eight momentum swings — but it was the home side that converted chances into goals.
