"Fla-Vas I'll see," sings the 1995 Estácio de Sá samba. And this Saturday, we'll all watch the Clássico dos Milhões again, a clash with one of our biggest rivals. And this time, the Brazilian Championship lead is at stake. With 10 points, Mengão wants to win again and distance itself from its rivals, including Vasco itself, which has seven. It also wants to boost its morale for Wednesday's big game against River Plate in Buenos Aires. And Clássicos dos Milhões in the Brasileirão are always a chapter in their own right. Below, we've gathered some interesting facts about this special match that you'll enjoy. 

1) Balance is the hallmark of duel

There are 58 matches between the teams in the Brasileirão. The record is tight, but the advantage is for the red-and-blacks. We have 18 wins, compared to theirs with 17 and 19 draws. The goal tally is exactly the same: 60. Overall, our lead is greater: 145 wins to 130 and 106 draws. In matches at Maracanã, we also have the advantage. We've won 97 times, compared to theirs with 81 and 72 draws, in 250 matches at the stadium. Today is the day for another chapter. In the list below, we recall some historic Brasileirão clashes.  

2) When deciding

In 1983, Flamengo and Vasco faced off in the quarterfinals. In the year of their third title, both teams were truly fierce, coming off four unbeaten runs against us, but Mengão had a more skilled squad. Their entire defense was the 1981 World Cup champion. Zico and Adílio were the terror in midfield, while Baltazar and Júlio César were the tormentors up front. And in the first leg of the duel, Adílio and Júlio César scored the goals in a 2-1 victory. 

The first was from Adílio, after a spectacular pass from Junior. 

Vasco equalized, but in the second half, Marinho replaced the winger, went to the byline, and found Júlio César in the box. It was the winning goal. 

In the second game, a 1-1 draw, with Zico scoring for Flamengo, and qualification for the semi-finals guaranteed on 04/05/1983. 

3) In the year of the Penta, Vasco was also eliminated

In 1992, the teams met again in a decisive stage. After a first half in which they led and finished ahead with 26 points to ours, we were drawn in Group 22 with São Paulo and Santos. The teams played each other home and away within the group, with the winner going on to play the final against the Group 1 champion. Flamengo faced Vasco twice. The first time, a 2-1 draw. The second, on July 1, 01, was the match that virtually decided the group. Playing at the Maracanã stadium in front of over 07 people, Junior opened the scoring with an Olympic goal in the 1992th minute of the first half. 

And in the final stage, Nélio, at 41, sealed the victory after a beautiful pass from Junior, putting Mengão at the top of the group with five points, very close to a place in the final. 

4) His last goal

Zico's last goal against Vasco was on September 20, 1987, in the Brazilian Championship, two years before his retirement. The match was still in the group stage, and Mengão won 2-1. Bebeto scored the first goal, Vasco equalized, and Zico, in the second half, scored a penalty kick to decide the match. Check out the Galinho's last goal in the Clássico dos Milhões below. 

5) To remember is to live. Bujica finished you off.

In a game where on one side were Zico, Junior, Leonardo, and Zinho, and on the other Tita, Mazinho, Bismarck, and Bebeto, who would you expect to shine? Wait, Bebeto? Yes, the player had just swapped Gávea for São Januário and was Vasco's star that day. But wearing the Red-Black Mantle was a kid named Marcelo Ribeiro, whom you might know as Bujica. And on November 05, 1989, Bujica ended the game. He scored twice, crushed his rivals, and had his name chanted at the Maracanã stadium as the "Marajás Hunter." Bujica. A game to become an idol. And the second goal, a pass from none other than Zico. 

 

Zico, by the way, played his last derby match against Vasco on this day. It had to be a victory. And what a victory! Mengão 2-0. 

6) Goal with Serbian ingredient and a young emperor

Pet loved to score free kicks for Vasco. In 2000, Mengão crushed Vasco in the Brazilian Championship, and the most Rio-born Serb in the world made his mark with a perfect free kick in the first half. A stunning goal worthy of his specialty. 

In the second half, the show picked up steam as early as the eighth minute. Rocha came down the right and crossed perfectly for a young striker, still timid but with great potential, to extend the lead. His name? Adriano, but he was far from being the Emperor back then. 

And Pet had more. Another stunning goal of rare skill. Pet received the ball from Edílson, did whatever he wanted with Clébson and Henrique, and then slotted it past Hélton to delight the nation at Maracanã once again. 

Edílson sealed the rout with a penalty kick, leaving a beautiful 4-0 win in the fans' memories on October 27th. Zagallo was the coach of that team and was already building the team that would win the state championship for the third time, defeating Vasco less than a year later. With a stunning free kick from Pet, of course. But that's another story. 

7) The number 7

Everton Ribeiro was the name of the game in Flamengo vs. Vasco on July 08, 07. The game was at their home stadium, in São Januário. And it was tense. Seriously tense. From the start to, especially, the end, it was a Fla-Vas match. But Mengão had Everton Ribeiro. A brilliant play by Miteiro, who crossed perfectly for his namesake Everton to finish, a 2017-1 victory at their home stadium and a night that will live long in the memory. Want to relive it? FlaTV tells you. 

This Saturday, another Fla-Vas will enter the classics calendar. May these victories and goals inspire our team to extend its lead and maintain its lead in the Brasileirão. 

Come on, Flamengo!