Keys to the Libertadores final: how Miguel Ángel Ramírez sees Atlético Mineiro-Botafogo

The former coach of Charlotte FC, Sporting Gijon and winner of the Copa Sudamericana with Independiente del Valle in 2019 analyzes Saturday's final for AS.

The 2024 Copa Libertadores is an all-Brazilian affair again as Atletico Mineiro seeks their second continental victory for the first time ever against Rio-based Botafogo in the final.

AS brought in current Al Wakrah (Qatar) coach Miguel Ángel Ramirez, with the Canary Islander a former Copa Sudamericana winner during his time with Ecuador's Independiente del Valle in 2019.

The 40-year-old offered his insight and keys on where to win and lose Saturday's final.

The teams. As is often the case in Brazil, both teams have undergone coaching changes this year. Botafogo is performing well under Artur Jorge and the Rio side are one of the surprise packages in this year's Libertadores and now find themselves within touching distance of their first ever Libertadores win. Mineiro's performances in the competition have been spotty this season, but under the tactical influence of Gabi Milito in the final, the Argentine's role could be crucial in terms of preparation and analysis.

A special final. Saturday's final will see two major Brazilian clubs face off in Argentina, with the match set to be played in an iconic stadium. There will be a spectacular atmosphere, with two passionate fans and. shows the stranglehold Brazilian football currently has on the continent.

Two teams from the same country. Clearly they know each other better, but Botafogo will be boosted by their 1-3 win in Palmeiras in midweek, which should see the Rio team win the Brasileirão. In the head-to-head matches this season, Botafogo have the upper hand with a 3-0 home win, with both teams playing a highly charged 0-0 draw in the league last week.

Keys to achieving maximum performance in a final. Analysis and preparation are essential, as is emotional balance. It can be difficult to manage this in your team before a match of this magnitude. Both teams will get off to a cagey start as they scan each other out, with neither team keen to give up early clear chances to their rival.

Clash of styles. If there's one thing Botafogo is known for, it's that they don't concede many goals. They are very solid in defense, but at the same time their playing style allows them to create chances. I'm looking forward to seeing how a team like At. Mineiro, a courageous team, is operating against the Rio team. I hope Milito can adapt his style to avoid becoming predictable, but I expect Botafogo to put in a more solid performance and take advantage of the chances they create.