Clube de Regatas do Flamengo–Clube Atlético Mineiro rivalry

The rivalry between Flamengo and Atlético Mineiro is a footballing rivalry played between Brazilian clubs Clube de Regatas do Flamengo, from Rio de Janeiro, and Clube Atlético Mineiro, from Belo Horizonte. The clubs first played against each other in 1929, but until regular competitions were introduced in Brazilian football in 1959, the encounters were played at friendly level, since they come from different states: Flamengo is from Rio de Janeiro, while Atlético Mineiro hails from Minas Gerais. The rivalry developed in the 1980s from numerous controversial encounters between the two clubs in that decade's Brasileirão and Copa Libertadores editions. It remained through the following years, and is considered the biggest interstate rivalry in Brazilian football.[1][2]

Flamengo–Atlético Mineiro rivalry
Locale Brazil
TeamsFlamengo
Atlético Mineiro
First meeting16 June 1929
Atlético Mineiro 2–3 Flamengo
Latest meeting8 November 2020
Atlético Mineiro 4–0 Flamengo
(2020 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A)
Statistics
Meetings total116
Most winsFlamengo (46)
All-time seriesFlamengo: 46
Draws: 32
Atlético Mineiro: 38
Largest victoryAtlético Mineiro 6–1 Flamengo
14 November 2004
(2004 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A)

History
A match between Atlético Mineiro and Flamengo at the Estádio Presidente Antônio Carlos, 1943.

The first encounter between the two teams happened on 16 June 1929, a friendly in Atlético's home ground, the Presidente Antônio Carlos stadium, which Flamengo won 3–2. Atlético's first victory came in 1934, 3–1 in Rio de Janeiro, also in friendly game.[3] The first regular national championship in Brazilian football was the Taça Brasil, introduced in 1959. Until then, matches between clubs from the states of Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais were mostly friendly, with an exception happening during the 1937 Copa dos Campeões Estaduais. The first time Flamengo and Atlético played for a national competition was on 2 April 1967, for that year's Torneio Roberto Gomes Pedrosa, a match which Atlético won 3–1 at the Mineirão.[4] The clubs also took part in the Torneio do Povo, a competition organised by the Brazilian Sports Confederation from 1971 to 1973 between Brazil's most popular football clubs. Flamengo won the 1972 edition of the tournament, played in a single round-robin, with Atlético Mineiro finishing as runner-up.[5]

A charity match played between the two clubs in 1979, in which Pelé played for Flamengo, helped ignite the rivalry. The match was won by the Rio de Janeiro club 5–1, and Atlético Mineiro players were irritated by what they saw as "excessive force" for a friendly game.[6] The rivalry, however, truly commenced in the 1980s, when both Atlético and Flamengo had strong teams and provided many players to the Brazilian national team. In 1980, the teams were finalists of the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, Atlético's third final and Flamengo's first. Atlético had the best record in the first stages of the competition, but Flamengo had the best one in the second, which meant the latter could tie the final series to win the title. Atlético won the first leg 1–0 at the Mineirão, but in the second leg, played at the Maracanã, Flamengo won 3–2 with a late goal by Nunes and won its first Série A.[7] During the match, three Atlético players were sent off, among them Reinaldo, who received a straight red card after scoring twice.[8][9]

As Brasileirão champion and runner-up, both clubs qualified for the 1981 Copa Libertadores, in which they were drawn in a group with Paraguayan teams Olimpia and Cerro Porteño. The two encounters between the Brazilian clubs ended 2–2, and both won two and drew two matches against the Paraguayans. A play-off match in a neutral stadium had to be played between Atlético and Flamengo to decide which one would advance to the semifinals.[10]

Estádio Serra Dourada (pictured), in Goiânia, was the venue of a controversial playoff match between Atlético Mineiro and Flamengo in the 1981 Copa Libertadores.

The match was played on 21 August at the Serra Dourada Stadium, in Goiânia, a ground selected by Flamengo. Atlético chose the referee of the encounter, José Roberto Wright. In the match, Atlético forward and best player Reinaldo received a straight red card from after fouling Flamengo's Zico at 33 minutes, in what was described as a "normal" foul and "without much violence".[11][12] After the foul, Wright then sent off Atlético player Éder for complaining, after which the game was stopped. A turmoil started, in which Atlético's Palhinha and Chicão were also sent off, for insulting the referee. Left with seven players, Atlético's goalkeeper João Leite simulated an injury at the restart of the match, but Wright refused to stop the game. Atlético defender Osmar then held the ball with his hands, preventing the restart, for which he too was sent off and the match ended at the 37 minute mark, because Atlético had less than seven players on the field. The match ended in a 0–0 draw, which meant qualification for Flamengo, as it had the best goal difference in the group stage.[13]

Atlético tried to appeal to a CONMEBOL court for annulment of the match, unsuccessfully. According to Wright, who until before the match was considered the country's best referee, Reinaldo's foul was indeed "normal" but he was sent off because of a previous warning. He also stated that Éder, Palhinha and Chicão were "stickers to indiscipline", and that he had to send Éder off as to not lose control of the match.[12] The episode and referee Wright's performance were described by Brazilian and South American media as "shameful", "deplorable" and "opprobrium".[11][12] Flamengo advanced to the semi-finals and went on to win the competition.[14]

From then on, enmity marked the encounters between the two clubs in the 1980s, a fact that remained over the following decades. In the 1986 Brasileirão, Atlético eliminated Flamengo in the round of 16, winning the second leg 1–0 at the Mineirão, after a 0–0 draw at Maracanã.[15] In the following year, Flamengo eliminated Atlético in the semi-finals of the Copa União, winning both legs, 3–2 in the first at the Mineirão, and 1–0 at the Maracanã.[16]

The rivalry's biggest rout happened in the 2004 Campeonato Brasileiro, in a match played at the Ipatingão, won by Atlético 6–1.[17] In 2006, Flamengo once again eliminated Atlético in a knockout stage, this time the quarter-finals of the Copa do Brasil, with a 4–1 aggregate score. In 2009, while both teams were in contention for the Série A title, a 3–1 Flamengo victory at the Mineirão, for the competition's 34th round, proved significant for the outcome of the season. The encounter, which included an olympic goal by Flamengo's Dejan Petković (who had played for the Belo Horizonte club in the previous season), marked Atlético's decline and Flamengo's rise in the competition. Prior to the game, Atlético was third and Flamengo fourth in the league table, with the positions being reversed after the match. Eventually, Atlético finished the season in seventh place after losing its four remaining matches, while Flamengo were crowned champions for the sixth time.[6]

Ronaldinho playing for Flamengo in 2011 (left) and for Atlético Mineiro in 2012

Three years later, Ronaldinho unilaterally ended his contract with Flamengo, claiming lack of payment by the club. A few days later, he joined Atlético, a move which prompted Flamengo director Zinho to say that he wanted "any team except Atlético" to win that year's Brasileirão.[18] Atlético eventually finished second in the competition behind Flamengo's local rivals Fluminense, but Ronaldinho won three titles with the Minas Gerais club, including the 2013 Copa Libertadores. In the 2014 Copa do Brasil semi-finals between the two clubs, Flamengo won the first leg at the Maracanã 2–0, and scored first in the second one at the Mineirão. Atlético managed to make a 4–1 comeback with three goals in the second half and a 4–3 aggregate score, to advance to the finals, which it won.[19]

Results summary
Competition Matches Flamengo wins Draws Atlético Mineiro wins
Friendly matches 42 19 12 9
Campeonato Brasileiro Série A 60 23 14 24
Copa do Brasil 4 2 1 1
Torneio do Povo 4 2 2 0
Copa Libertadores 3 0 3 0
Primeira Liga 1 1 0 0
Total 107 43 30 34

Sources: Flapédia and Galo Digital

Records

Scores and sequences
  • Biggest win:
  • Biggest Campeonato Brasileiro Série A win:
    • For Flamengo: Flamengo 4–1 Atlético Mineiro, (2001 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, 25 June 2011);[3]
    • For Atlético Mineiro: Atlético Mineiro 6–1 Flamengo, (2004 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, 14 November 2004).[3]
  • Biggest Copa do Brasil win:
    • For Flamengo: Flamengo 4–1 Atlético Mineiro (2006 Copa do Brasil quarter-finals, first leg, 26 April 2006);[3]
    • For Atlético Mineiro: Atlético Mineiro 4–1 Flamengo, (2014 Copa do Brasil semi-finals, second leg, 5 November 2014).[3]
  • Biggest Copa Libertadores win:
    • For Flamengo: none;
    • For Atlético Mineiro: none.
  • Biggest unbeaten run:
    • For Flamengo: 7 games (15 November 1955 to 6 February 1966, and 1 June 1980 to 7 March 1982);[3]
    • For Atlético Mineiro: 6 games (16 November 1966 to 15 October 1969, 14 March 1982 to 1 November 1987, 7 September 1989 to 19 November 1995).[3]
  • Most consecutive wins:
    • For Flamengo: 4 wins (8 August 1996 to 3 October 1998);[3]
    • For Atlético Mineiro: 4 wins (5 November 2014 to 20 September 2015).[3]

Attendance

The following are the ten best-attended matches of the encounter.[20]

Rank Attendance Date Venue Score Competition
1 154,355 1 June 1980 Maracanã Flamengo 3–2 Atlético Mineiro 1980 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A
2 139,953 6 April 1979 Maracanã Flamengo 5–1 Atlético Mineiro Friendly
3 118,162 29 November 1987 Maracanã Flamengo 1–0 Atlético Mineiro Copa União
4 115,142 13 February 1980 Mineirão Atlético Mineiro 2–1 Flamengo Friendly
5 107,497 4 February 1987 Mineirão Atlético Mineiro 1–0 Flamengo 1986 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A
6 90,028 28 May 1980 Mineirão Atlético Mineiro 1–0 Flamengo 1981 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A
7 84,929 2 December 1987 Mineirão Atlético Mineiro 2–3 Flamengo Copa União
8 81,867 25 March 1981 Mineirão Atlético Mineiro 0–0 Flamengo 1981 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A
9 77,387 11 October 2008 Maracanã Flamengo 0–3 Atlético Mineiro 2008 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A
10 71,450 7 March 1982 Maracanã Flamengo 2–1 Atlético Mineiro 1982 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A

References
  1. "Deutschland trägt heute die verhassten Farben". Die Welt. 18 November 2014. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
  2. Leandro, Stein (29 October 2014). "Como os timaços de Fla e Galo criaram a maior rivalidade interestadual do Brasil" [How Fla's and Galo's superteams created the biggest interstate rivalry in Brazil]. Trivela (in Portuguese). Retrieved 11 October 2015.
  3. "Lista de jogos contra o Atlético-MG – Flapédia" (in Portuguese). Flapédia. 29 September 2015. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  4. Arruda, Marcelo; Almeida, José Ricardo; Azeredo, Paulo (22 October 2009). "Torneio Roberto Gomes Pedrosa – 1967". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 21 October 2015. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  5. Azeredo, Paulo (7 November 2000). "Torneio do Povo 1972". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
  6. Madureira, Marcellus (29 October 2014). "De Ronaldinho a Wright: 7 razões para atleticano odiar o Fla". Terra (in Portuguese). Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  7. "Jogos Eternos – Flamengo 3x2 Atlético-MG 1980" [Eternal matches – Flamengo 3x2 Atlético Mineiro 1980]. Imortais do Futebol (in Portuguese). 23 January 2014. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  8. Lacerda, Bernardo; Almeida, Pedro (29 October 2014). "Jogos polêmicos na década de 80 acirram rivalidade Flamengo e Atlético-MG" [Controversial matches of the 1980s intensify the Flamengo and Atlético Mineiro rivalry]. UOL Esporte (in Portuguese). Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  9. Villela, Gustavo (28 October 2014). "Flamengo derrota Atlético Mineiro no Maracanã e conquista o Brasileiro em 80" [Flamengo defeats Atlético Mineiro at the Maracanã and wins Brasileiro in 1980]. Acervo O Globo (in Portuguese). O Globo. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  10. Beuker, John; Ciullini, Pablo (7 March 2013). "Copa Libertadores 1981". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
  11. "Incidentes entre Flamengo y Mineiro" [Incidents between Flamengo and Mineiro]. El Tiempo (in Spanish). 23 August 1981. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
  12. "Sua senhoria, o vexame" [His Lordship, the opprobrium]. Placar. 28 August 1981. Retrieved 7 November 2015 – via Google Books.
  13. Maria Filho, Antônio; Gomes, Ari (22 August 1981). "Wright se perde e jogo não chega ao fim". Jornal do Brasil (in Portuguese). Retrieved 7 November 2015 – via National Library of Brazil.
  14. Beuker, John; Ciullini, Pablo (7 March 2013). "Copa Libertadores 1981". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
  15. Pontes, Ricardo (4 August 2010). "Brazil Championship 1986". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 6 January 2010. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  16. "Brazilian Championship 1987". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. 20 August 2013. Archived from the original on 20 May 2011. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  17. "Atlético-MG 6 x 1 Flamengo, 14/11/2004". Futpédia (in Portuguese). Globo.com. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  18. "Zinho, sobre o campeão brasileiro: 'Qualquer um, menos o Atlético-MG'" [Zinho, about the Brazilian champion: "Any, except Atlético Mineiro"]. Globoesporte.com (in Portuguese). 9 October 2012. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  19. "Quem não acredita? Milagroso, Galo goleia Fla e faz final mineira com rival" [Who doesn't believe? Miraculous Galo smashes Fla and makes all-mineiro final with rival] (in Portuguese). Globoesporte.com. 5 November 2014. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  20. "100 maiores públicos da história do Clube Atlético Mineiro". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. 12 January 2012. Archived from the original on 17 September 2017. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
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