BuzzFla: Flamengo vs Atlético Mineiro and a very common score
We've put together some interesting facts about the national classic, which will have another chapter this Saturday.
By Lucas Dantas - in
One of Brazil's most traditional classics will have a new chapter this Saturday night. Starting at 21 p.m., the action will kick off at Independência for Atlético Mineiro vs. Flamengo in the seventh round of the Brazilian Championship.
In the competition, the duel is evenly matched, but with a one-win advantage for them (22-23). However, overall, we have 43 wins to their 35, plus 33 draws. And these victories have a lot of stories to tell. The main one involves an incredible curiosity. Some of the most important matches in history between these teams have ended 3-2 in favor of Flamengo. The one with Zico's first goal, the one with Zico's last goal, the one with the Brazilian title, one with a Romário show... But there's also the Pelé game, the spectacle at the Hexa, and more. Check out our list of interesting facts about the Flamengo vs. Atlético Mineiro match below.
1. The Greatest Final of All Time
We couldn't begin this list without mentioning the greatest match between the two teams. On June 01, 1980, Brazil's two best teams took the field to decide that year's Brazilian Championship. It was the duel between Zico and Reinaldo. It was the clash of two massive fan bases (theirs is huge, come on...) and two teams that had lost only twice in the competition, in 21 matches played. A final that promised so much. In the first leg, at Mineirão Stadium and without Zico, Flamengo lost 0-1. All of Brazil knew that result wouldn't be enough to secure the title. And it wasn't. In just seven minutes, Zico found Nunes, and the "Goal Scorer" made no mistake, opening the scoring at a Maracanã stadium packed with 155 fans.
Reinaldo equalized, but who has Zico... Galinho wasn't going to let the game go into the locker room tied. The foul he committed at Mineirão, he didn't commit at Maracanã. In the 44th minute, Zico grabbed the rebound and unleashed a bomb, making it 2-1.
That Reinaldo guy was annoying and equalized again (just kidding, he played great). A draw would have suited them. But Mengão had a world of fans behind them at the Maracanã and would only emerge from that field as champions. That's when Nunes picked up the ball on the left in the 37th minute of the second half. He tried to pass it, but the ball hit Silvestre and bounced back. Nunces then shouted to his marker, "Look, there's Christ," passed around the corner, leaving Silvestre in the dust, and unleashed a shot past João Leite. The title-winning goal! Mengão was the master of Brazil for the first time!
2. 3x2 eternal
The Flamengo-Atlético Mineiro 3-2 scoreline is remarkable. Not only did the 1980 final have this scoreline, but the 1987 semifinal against them at Mineirão also had this result. It was again a duel between two teams that dominated the country at the time. In the first leg, in Rio, Flamengo won 1-0, with a goal by Bebeto. With the advantage, Mengão traveled to Belo Horizonte with the chance to equalize. And they took the lead. Zico and Bebeto made it 2-0 in the first half. Atlético fought back and equalized through Chiquinho and Sérgio Araújo. But Renato Gaúcho, in the 35th minute, drew a breather from who knows where and scored the greatest goal of his career at the Mais Querido. And what a goal. A spot in the final secured, the path to the fourth title was clear.
Another game that ended 3-2 for Mengão featured another top scorer. On October 03, 1998, short-haired Romário was on fire. Regaining his fitness and scoring goal after goal, the number 11 netted two that afternoon. Flamengo opened the scoring with Fabiano's free kick, but Galo turned the game around. In the second half, the fans were growing impatient, so Romário took responsibility and equalized. But he had more in store. In the 38th minute, he picked up the ball in the middle, played a one-two with Iranildo, and burst into the box, scoring a stunning goal very similar to Nunes's in 1980.
Want another historic 3-2? The first ever. Yes, the first Flamengo-Atlético MG match (which was actually Atlético-Flamengo) also ended 3-2 for us. The match was on June 16, 06, and striker Fragoso scored all three, and it was worthy of a trophy, of course. With the result, Mengão won the Mayor Christiano Machado trophy at the Presidente Antonio Carlos stadium in Belo Horizonte.
3. Olympic victory at Mineirão
In 2009, the year we won the sixth title, the teams faced off twice, and we won both times. In the first leg, at Maracanã, we won 3-1, with goals from Leo Moura, Kléberson, and Everton. The second leg, at Mineirão, was crucial. It was already the final stretch of the championship, the two teams were battling for the top of the table, and the stadium was packed with Atlético fans. Pressure was on, Atlético was on the attack, and there was a lot of fighting on the field, but in the ninth minute, Petkovic made the difference. A corner kick from the left. Petkovic decided that the goal would come from there. And it did. Direct. His second Olympic goal of the championship that year.
Still in the first half, Maldonado scored the second. Atlético pulled one back, and Emperor Adriano scored the winning goal in the second half. With the result, Flamengo moved into third place, overtaking their own Minas Gerais rival, who dropped to fifth. From then on, there were four more games to go and a sixth championship in the trophy cabinet.
4. The Day Pelé Played Alongside the King
In the photo below you can see the Greatest Player of All Time waiting to see what Pelé would do with the ball on that April 06, 1979.
The game was a friendly. Revenue from the match, which reached CR$8.781.290,00, with a paying attendance of 139.953, was donated to flood victims in the state of Minas Gerais. Maracanã was chosen for the match because it was the stadium with the largest capacity and boasted the support of the Flamengo Nation. And the attraction of Pelé wearing the Sacred Mantle number 10. It couldn't go wrong. And it didn't. Flamengo ignored the friendly and put five past Atlético fans. Pelé, at 39, put in a strong performance and had a chance to score. The game was 0-1 in favor of the Minas Gerais team when Flamengo was awarded a penalty. Zico picked up the ball and passed it to Pelé, who passed it back to the Galinho. It was his field, his fans, his Flamengo. Zico took the shot and scored.
5. The Greatest Scorer
Zico, of course. Besides the goal Pelé refused to score in 1979, Zico scored eight others, becoming the top scorer in the match, in 19 matches. And as shown above, the 3-2 draw is back here. His last match against Atlético was the 3-2 draw in 1987, at Mineirão Stadium. And he left his mark, scoring the first goal of the victory. It was also his last goal against the Minas Gerais team.
Do you know when the first goal was scored? January 28, 01. The score? GUESS! Yes, Flamengo 1973-3 Atlético Mineiro (but is that possible?). And Zico didn't just score one. He scored TWO goals in the game.
There's no point, this score is embedded in the history of Flamengo vs. Atlético Mineiro. We don't know what Saturday's score will be, but if it's 3-2, you can bet it will have a special place in history. Even more so if it's for us.