ASUNCION, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Brazil's Atletico Mineiro will bid to rescue a faltering season when it meets Argentine side Lanus in Saturday's Copa Sudamericana final, manager Jorge Sampaoli said on Friday.
Sampaoli said his squad will approach Saturday's clash in Paraguayan capital Asunción determined to finish the campaign on a high.
"We want to make our fans happy," the Argentine told a news conference. "We have the need and the priority to fight until the end to give them something to cheer about after a year that was not the best, and surely this title would make for a very happy end to the year."
Atletico, which is currently ninth in Brazil's 20-team Serie A standings, is aiming to win South America's equivalent of the Europa League for the first time.
The Belo Horizonte club reached the final by beating Ecuador's Independiente del Valle in the semifinals while Lanus advanced by overcoming Universidad de Chile.
"Lanus are deserving finalists. They have collective consolidation and have been very consistent with their performances. We know that it's going to be a difficult match."
He added that Atletico would have "nothing to lose" at Defensores del Chaco stadium.
"There's a lot at stake in this game," Sampaoli said. "We want the club to make history by winning this competition for the first time and we will do everything possible to make that happen."
The winner of the final will automatically qualify for next year's Copa Libertadores, South America's premier club competition. Enditem
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