Bucaramanga sinned through innocence and suffered a painful defeat in the Copa Sudamericana against Atlético Mineiro.

Atlético Bucaramanga sinned through innocence and ended up losing a match that they dominated for just over an hour, but in which they could not recover from a penalty that Atlético Mineiro ended up winning 0-1, at the Américo Montanini Stadium.

Now, Leonel Álvarez's team will have to decide their future in the Copa Sudamericana next Thursday in Belo Horizonte, where their debut ended in dismal fashion.

Bucaramanga repeated in this match the same constant from their participation this year in the Copa Libertadores: at home they struggled, despite having had different styles of playing, against diverse opponents, from those who demanded everything from them to those who closed in on them and didn't let them maneuver, like this Atlético Mineiro who made it their priority to get a clean sheet and then, if they could, find a way to score a goal.

And so it happened: Galo's goalkeeper, Everson, was key with several saves and with his time management skills, taking advantage of the generosity of the referee, Venezuelan Alexis Herrera, who let things happen and let time run out. Especially after Mineiro was reduced to 10 men after Alan Franco was sent off seven minutes into the second half.

Atlético Mineiro ultimately won through sheer experience, thanks to an isolated play after goalkeeper Aldaír Quintana was merely a spectator for much of the match. The goal came from a penalty in which Bucaramanga was too naive: Igor Gomes tried to turn in the box, but Jefferson Mena put a cross on his arm. It was a clear foul, with no need to resort to VAR.

Striker Hulk used all his power to leave goalkeeper Aldaír Quintana with no options, who took the right direction, but was unable to stop it.

Atlético Mineiro's goal came in the 68th minute, and from that moment on, Bucaramanga had nearly half an hour to try to turn things around. Before the goal, they had had eight shots on goal. After the 1-0, they never got close again.

The home side grew desperate and fell into the Brazilians' trap, who played with the disciplinary code in hand to reach the end of the match with a goal advantage in their favor. To top it all off, youngster Bayron Duarte ended up being sent off for being provoked: Herrera yellow-carded him for a collision with Igor Gómez and the Colombian full-back, who already had one...

Bucaramanga will have to look for a miracle on the road: a two-goal win in Belo Horizonte to reach the round of 16. The divine help was already used in Avellaneda, in the surprising and thrilling victory against Racing. Now they must light candles to ensure their international participation doesn't end abruptly.