Flamengo closes 2017 as the "King of the Classics"
Rubro-Negro has only one defeat in 19 clashes against rivals
By Francisco Freire and Lucas Dantas - inIt's no secret that Flamengo is superior to all its state rivals. The numbers are unmistakable: in head-to-head matches, no team has more victories than the Red-Blacks. 2017 served to reinforce this fact once again. In the final stretch of the season, with no other derby games remaining, it's safe to say: Flamengo is and remains the King of Rio.
Playing at Maracanã, then, their supremacy only increases. They've gone two years without losing to their main rivals at the stadium. The last setback was in September 2015, when the team was defeated by Vasco. Since then, the Red-Black Party Room has hosted 11 matches, with five wins for the Mais Querido and six draws. That's because the stadium is "neutral," they say...
Flamengo vs. "them" in 2017
Between the Carioca, Brasileirão, Copa do Brasil, and Conmebol Sudamericana, there were 19 clashes against the three biggest Rio rivals. In nearly two dozen matches, there were eight wins, ten draws, and only one loss. With 23 goals for and 17 against, the Mais Querido had a 59,6% success rate.
Flamengo vs. "them" in 2017
05/11/2016 - Flamengo 0 X 0 Botafogo
08/04/2017 - Flamengo 0 X 0 Vasco
23/04/2017 - Flamengo 2 X 1 Botafogo
30/04/2017 - Flamengo 1 X 0 Fluminense
07/05/2017 - Flamengo 2 X 1 Fluminense
18/06/2017 - Flamengo 2 X 2 Fluminense
23/08/2017 - Flamengo 1 X 0 Botafogo
12/10/2017 - Flamengo 1 X 1 Fluminense
25/10/2017 - Flamengo 1 X 0 Fluminense
28/10/2017 - Flamengo 0 X 0 Vasco
01/11/2017 - Flamengo 3 X 3 Fluminense
In 2017
In 2017
Between the Carioca, Brasileirão, Copa do Brasil, and Conmebol Sudamericana, there were 19 clashes against the three biggest Rio rivals. In nearly two dozen matches, there were eight wins, ten draws, and only one loss. With 23 goals for and 17 against, the Mais Querido had a 59,6% success rate.
Flamengo not only beat all its rivals repeatedly, but also won at the right moments. It played ten knockout matches, with no losses. Despite being eliminated in the Guanabara Cup final and the Rio Cup semifinal, the "Mais Querido" (the most beloved team) rebounded by winning more important matches.
State Championship
In their campaign for their 34th Rio de Janeiro title, their sixth in history, Flamengo outclassed their rivals. They beat them all, the only team to achieve this feat.
The campaign began against Botafogo, at their home ground, and they won 2-1, with goals from Everton and Guerrero. After Botafogo, Vasco da Gama faced Vasco da Gama in Volta Redonda, and Diego's lone penalty secured the victory and qualification for the Taça Guanabara final against Fluminense.
The final ended in a draw, and the Tricolor team prevailed on penalties. The team continued their undefeated campaign in the Rio Cup, but since the team had already qualified for the state championship's quadrangular section (based on points), the draw in the semifinal against Vasco didn't derail their title hopes. There were two classic matches in the stage: two draws against Vasco (2-2) and Fluminense (1-1), in addition to the 0-0 draw in the Rio Cup final.
And the time had come for "now it's for real." At that moment, the jersey, the mystique, the strength, and the tradition all played their part. First, Guerrero destroyed Botafogo with two goals at the Maracanã.
Then it was Fluminense's turn in the final. The first game ended 1-0, with Everton scoring. In the final, Guerrero and Rodinei gave Flamengo their 34th state title and sealed their unbeaten run in the competition.
Change the knockout stage, but don't change the result.
Flamengo didn't just indoctrinate its opponents in the state championship. In the Copa do Brasil, the team was vastly superior in both matches against Botafogo, at home and at Maracanã, and secured a spot in the final after a stalemate at Engenhão and a stunning victory at Maracanã. That goal by Diego, that dribble by Berrío, that crowd celebration...
For the Brazilian
In the main national competition, a small stumble, but the supremacy was undisputed. A single loss to Botafogo at the Enegnhão doesn't erase the fact that Flamengo once again outperformed its rivals. The highlight was the victory at São Januário, over Vasco, proving that Flamengo can go out and beat the rest on any field. Everton, always Everton, decided the match after a sensational play by his namesake Ribeiro.
State Championship
In their campaign for their 34th Rio de Janeiro title, their sixth in history, Flamengo outclassed their rivals. They beat them all, the only team to achieve this feat.
The campaign began against Botafogo, at their home ground, and they won 2-1, with goals from Everton and Guerrero. After Botafogo, Vasco da Gama faced Vasco da Gama in Volta Redonda, and Diego's lone penalty secured the victory and qualification for the Taça Guanabara final against Fluminense.
The final ended in a draw, and the Tricolor team prevailed on penalties. The team continued their undefeated campaign in the Rio Cup, but since the team had already qualified for the state championship's quadrangular section (based on points), the draw in the semifinal against Vasco didn't derail their title hopes. There were two classic matches in the stage: two draws against Vasco (2-2) and Fluminense (1-1), in addition to the 0-0 draw in the Rio Cup final.
And the time had come for "now it's for real." At that moment, the jersey, the mystique, the strength, and the tradition all played their part. First, Guerrero destroyed Botafogo with two goals at the Maracanã.
Then it was Fluminense's turn in the final. The first game ended 1-0, with Everton scoring. In the final, Guerrero and Rodinei gave Flamengo their 34th state title and sealed their unbeaten run in the competition.
Change the knockout stage, but don't change the result.
Flamengo didn't just indoctrinate its opponents in the state championship. In the Copa do Brasil, the team was vastly superior in both matches against Botafogo, at home and at Maracanã, and secured a spot in the final after a stalemate at Engenhão and a stunning victory at Maracanã. That goal by Diego, that dribble by Berrío, that crowd celebration...
For the Brazilian
In the main national competition, a small stumble, but the supremacy was undisputed. A single loss to Botafogo at the Enegnhão doesn't erase the fact that Flamengo once again outperformed its rivals. The highlight was the victory at São Januário, over Vasco, proving that Flamengo can go out and beat the rest on any field. Everton, always Everton, decided the match after a sensational play by his namesake Ribeiro.
In Brazil, it's over. Let's "leave."
The excitement wouldn't end there. If Flamengo dominated in domestic competitions, an international one was missing. In the CONMEBOL South American Championship, fate had Brazil's Most Charming Classic to decide a spot in the semifinals. Flamengo and Fluminense had two meetings at the Maracanã. Everton, once again, decided the first. The return leg was a true test for the faint of heart, with the Red-Blacks seeking a heroic draw with grit, love, and passion. After trailing 1-3, with the away goals rule, the team came back. Vizeu pulled one back, and Willian Arão equalized in the 39th minute of the second half, putting an end to the Rio derbies in 2017.
Gunners
Guerrero, the specialist, tops the list. The Peruvian scored five times this year against the rivals. But the team isn't just about the striker; midfielders Diego and Willian Arão also made their mark, each with four goals. Just like Everton. Everton, in fact, is a chapter in itself.
The attacking midfielder was instrumental in this dominance. With 247 appearances for Flamengo, number 22 is one of the longest-serving members of the squad, a holdover from the 2009 sixth-place finish. And in 2017, Everton was on target in the derbies. He scored against all three teams, and in decisive moments, such as in the state final, against Fluminense at São Januário, against Vasco, and again against Flu in the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana quarterfinals. He made his mark against Botafogo in the 2-1 victory at Engenhão. When Flamengo needed an advantage, Everton was there to finish it off. It was the same in the state championship and the Copa Sudamericana. He scored four goals in derbies that year. Okay?
5 Goals - Guerrero
4 goals - Willian Arão, Diego and Everton
1 goal - Berrío, Réver, Trauco, Felipe Vizeu and Rodinei
The 2017 campaign isn't over yet. The Brazilian Championship still has a long way to go, and the Copa CONMEBOL Sudamericana is in its semifinals. But for their Rio rivals, they'd better rethink their strategies for next year. The problem is that neither of them has a Sangre del Manto to wear, much less a nation to support them. And that's a fundamental difference.
Guerrero, the specialist, tops the list. The Peruvian scored five times this year against the rivals. But the team isn't just about the striker; midfielders Diego and Willian Arão also made their mark, each with four goals. Just like Everton. Everton, in fact, is a chapter in itself.
The attacking midfielder was instrumental in this dominance. With 247 appearances for Flamengo, number 22 is one of the longest-serving members of the squad, a holdover from the 2009 sixth-place finish. And in 2017, Everton was on target in the derbies. He scored against all three teams, and in decisive moments, such as in the state final, against Fluminense at São Januário, against Vasco, and again against Flu in the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana quarterfinals. He made his mark against Botafogo in the 2-1 victory at Engenhão. When Flamengo needed an advantage, Everton was there to finish it off. It was the same in the state championship and the Copa Sudamericana. He scored four goals in derbies that year. Okay?
5 Goals - Guerrero
4 goals - Willian Arão, Diego and Everton
1 goal - Berrío, Réver, Trauco, Felipe Vizeu and Rodinei
The 2017 campaign isn't over yet. The Brazilian Championship still has a long way to go, and the Copa CONMEBOL Sudamericana is in its semifinals. But for their Rio rivals, they'd better rethink their strategies for next year. The problem is that neither of them has a Sangre del Manto to wear, much less a nation to support them. And that's a fundamental difference.