Sampaoli highlights Atlético's performance, but considers that the match is still open

Atlético achieved a good result in the first game of the Copa Sudamericana semi-final. On Tuesday night (21), Galo fell behind in the score in the opening minutes, but managed to recover throughout the game and drew 1-1 with Independiente del Valle.

Coach Jorge Sampaoli praised the result given the difficult match in Ecuador. The Argentine commented that he saw a very even first half, but emphasized that Galo came back stronger after the break and could have tied the game earlier.

"It's very difficult to play here. The demands of a pitch where a team usually always wins, the height, and a host of conditions that a semifinal presents. I think the first half was balanced, without much action, we lacked a bit of game. But in the second half the team played better, creating many clear chances to equalize earlier. But the attitude and the second half's play were worth it, which allowed us to reach the draw," he said.

Despite the good result away from home, the coach knows the spot is still up in the air. In the quarterfinals, Del Valle lost 2-0 at home and managed to qualify in Colombia. Sampaoli highlighted the opponent's strength and counterattacking prowess.

"We're well aware of this team's ability when playing away from home. We're clear that we need to play a well-planned match, because they're a team with a lot of attacking power. However, we have to prepare for a match as difficult as this, and we know that they're one of the teams with the best counterattacks in South America," he said.

One of the key players in Atlético's draw was Hulk. The forward came on during the second half and provided the assist for Dudu's goal. The coach emphasized the player's importance to Atlético and also expressed his hope that he can return to his best form to further contribute to the team.

"It's very important for us to get Hulk back to his level, because he's an idol, a player who's experienced so much at the club. I'm very happy that he created the equalizer. We always expect him to perform better; this will certainly give him momentum, more confidence, and the team will help him much more," he emphasized.

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