In a duel that, throughout the season, promises to gain the weight of a direct confrontation in the fight for the Brazilian Championship title, Flamengo and Atlético-MG showed balance and drew 1-1. The minimal score was fair to the match, full of good opportunities for both teams and with two balls cleared off the line for each side.

Zé Ricardo's next challenge will be in the CONMEBOL Libertadores Bridgestone, this Wednesday (17), in Buenos Aires, against San Lorenzo, for the last round of the group stage. Flamengo needs a draw to continue in the competition.

Flamengo's next match in the Brasileirão will be next Saturday (20), at 7 pm, at Serra Dourada, against Atlético-GO, the same opponent from the round of 16 of the Copa do Brasil. The Mais Querido will meet the Goiás team again on Wednesday (24), at 9:45 pm, once again at Serra Dourada, for the return match that will define who goes to the quarterfinals.

Not even a minute into the game, Flamengo attempted their first attack down the left flank, with a dangerous cross for Guerrero that was cleared by the defense. Four minutes later, Éverton received the ball on the left, with space to advance; the number 22 took it to the byline to cross low, looking for Guerrero, but the defender prevented the ball from reaching its destination and cleared it with a sliding tackle for a corner. Atlético's response came with Robinho, but the opponent was intercepted by Márcio Araújo, who was also fouled in the process. In the following minutes, Guerrero was played into the area three times, but each time he was flagged offside. Pará and Éverton, on the flanks, also caused problems for the Minas Gerais team's defense. 

Flamengo's pressure continued, and it wasn't long before the score changed from 0-0. In the 23rd minute, the star of one of the Flamengo youth players shone: attempting a cross for Guerrero, the Peruvian stretched to reach it, the ball didn't touch the number 9, bounced, deceived goalkeeper Victor, and ended up in the net.

And the fateful 43rd minute didn't go unnoticed in the first half. Berrío arrived on the left side of the penalty area, was marked, and the ball fell to Guerrero, who turned beautifully to unleash a shot; the ball went wide to the left of Victor's post. In the next play, a fast counter-attack with Berrío – pardon the redundancy. The Colombian skillfully beat three defenders, even nutmegging them, but his low cross to Guerrero was thwarted by the Atlético defense.

In Atlético-MG's first attack of the second half, Rafael Vaz practically scored a goal for Flamengo. After Cazares cleared the play, got past Muralha, and shot towards what seemed to be the opponent's equalizing goal, the Flamengo defender cleared it almost on the line. Flamengo didn't take long to respond, with a powerful, low shot from Éverton that forced Victor into a great save, raising the spirits of the fans in the stands. At nine minutes, Rafael Vaz scored his second "goal," this time clearing another shot from Cazares just millimeters off the line.

The opponent was having a better moment in the match and, at 13 minutes, Atlético-MG equalized with Elias. Flamengo didn't let this discourage them and continued chasing the lead, returning the favor with two clearances at 32 and 36 minutes. First, after a deflection on a rebound from Victor, with the goalkeeper out of position, Fábio Santos headed the ball away; then, Guerrero deflected the ball towards goal, and it went past the Atlético goalkeeper, rolled along the line and didn't go in, incredibly. Until the final whistle, there were several scoring chances, but the score remained tied.

The 42.575 paying spectators – 50.220 present – ​​at the Maracanã stadium generated R$ 1.874.265,00 in ticket sales, an amount that will be donated to the municipal campaign to reopen the community restaurants, which serve meals for R$2 and R$0,50. In partnership with the City Hall, the club will donate 70 basic food baskets, equivalent to 230 meals.

During halftime, President Eduardo Bandeira de Mello symbolically presented a basic food basket to the mayor of Rio de Janeiro.