Alan Franco was proclaimed champion of the Brasileirao with Atlético Mineiro

Atlético Mineiro, with Alan Franco as a substitute, was proclaimed champion of Brasileirao this Thursday for the first time in 50 years, breaking the recent hegemony of Flamengo in the Brazilian league.

The eleven from Belo Horizonte, directed by Alexi Stival head, they secured their second league, after the rise in 1971, by beating Bahia 3-2 in Salvador (northeast) in an epic comeback with two games remaining in the competition.

The Albinegros reached 81 points in 36 matches, eleven points more than Flamengo second and winner of the last two editions of the tournament.

Bahía, who fights not to go down, started winning 2-0 with goals from Luiz Otávio and Gilberto in 62 and 66, but the visitors turned it around in four minutes with Hulk scores (73, from a penalty) and a Keno double ( 74 and 77).

With one of the best payrolls in America, the Galo He secured the trophy early despite a poor start to the season. However, he was able to overcome and from matchday 15 led without interruption.

Alan Franco thus becomes the third Ecuadorian to win the Brasileirao, after Hólguer Quiñónez with Vasco da Gama and Néicer Reasco with Sao Paulo.

However, the Ecuadorian did not have much prominence in the local championship, of which he was a substitute in most of the games. The former Independiente del Valle player only played 76 minutes during the Brasileirao. (D)