A sixth (also) won away from home
Flamengo's improved performance as a visitor leads the team to the title
By From the team at Flamengo's official website - in
Flamengo's strength at Maracanã has always been known. With its fans, the club has won some historic titles. Away from home, things are different. Many questioned Flamengo's ability to win away games. But it was precisely thanks to its performance on the road that the story of the Hexa began to be made. Flamengo earned 26 of its 67 points (38,8%) in home matches—including the 0-0 draw in the first half of the season.
Although it wasn't the best away performance in the competition—Cruzeiro, among the top five, scored 29 points—the team's recovery after having to leave Rio de Janeiro defied all predictions from mathematicians like Professor Tristão Garcia of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul. In his methodology, Garcia takes into account teams' performance upon returning from away matches. Flamengo's first half of the season was merely average. Of the 27 points contested with its name in column 2 of the Sports Lottery, the team earned 08 (29,6%)—below the so-called English average (33,3%).
After a poor start to the second half of the season, losing to Avaí at Ressacada, where they played with many youngsters from the youth academy, the team reinforced by Álvaro and Maldonado gained defensive consistency and began to earn valuable points away from Rio. They drew with Atlético-PR at the feared Arena da Baixada and showed great grit in a completely flooded Beira Rio stadium, where Internacional was considered the favorite. The two draws were 0-0 – exactly the same advantage as the Rubro-Negro over the second-place team in the standings – Inter, who earned 25 points away from home.
Another draw, secured in stoppage time against Vitória at Barradão Stadium, maintained the group's and fans' confidence in their chances of securing a Libertadores berth. The title dream began to take shape when Flamengo soundly defeated then-champion Palmeiras at Palestra Itália, much to the bewilderment of the São Paulo fans. Even in a derby, played on Botafogo's most familiar stadium, Engenhão, Andrade's team showed character and defeated their old rival.
In the following round, an unexpected stumble at Arena Barueri. The home team played better, created more chances, and won deservedly—a triumph marred by the alleged receipt of "white bags" by Barueri players, according to statements made by two of the São Paulo team's players to a radio station.
From then on, beating all odds, the team from Gávea won all away matches: Atlético-MG (1-3), Náutico (0-2), and Corinthians (0-2). A sensational run that took the club from mid-table positions to the top of the table by the end of the penultimate round.
The return leg performance was exceptional, but Flamengo also earned crucial points away from home in the first half. Among them was a draw with then-three-time national champion São Paulo at Morumbi Stadium and a victory over Santos at Vila Belmiro Stadium, breaking a 30-year-old record at the venue.
See how the five best-placed teams performed away from home:
Flamengo - 26 points
International - 25 points
Sao Paulo - 23 points
Cruzeiro - 29 points
Palmeiras - 19 points
Although it wasn't the best away performance in the competition—Cruzeiro, among the top five, scored 29 points—the team's recovery after having to leave Rio de Janeiro defied all predictions from mathematicians like Professor Tristão Garcia of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul. In his methodology, Garcia takes into account teams' performance upon returning from away matches. Flamengo's first half of the season was merely average. Of the 27 points contested with its name in column 2 of the Sports Lottery, the team earned 08 (29,6%)—below the so-called English average (33,3%).
After a poor start to the second half of the season, losing to Avaí at Ressacada, where they played with many youngsters from the youth academy, the team reinforced by Álvaro and Maldonado gained defensive consistency and began to earn valuable points away from Rio. They drew with Atlético-PR at the feared Arena da Baixada and showed great grit in a completely flooded Beira Rio stadium, where Internacional was considered the favorite. The two draws were 0-0 – exactly the same advantage as the Rubro-Negro over the second-place team in the standings – Inter, who earned 25 points away from home.
Another draw, secured in stoppage time against Vitória at Barradão Stadium, maintained the group's and fans' confidence in their chances of securing a Libertadores berth. The title dream began to take shape when Flamengo soundly defeated then-champion Palmeiras at Palestra Itália, much to the bewilderment of the São Paulo fans. Even in a derby, played on Botafogo's most familiar stadium, Engenhão, Andrade's team showed character and defeated their old rival.
In the following round, an unexpected stumble at Arena Barueri. The home team played better, created more chances, and won deservedly—a triumph marred by the alleged receipt of "white bags" by Barueri players, according to statements made by two of the São Paulo team's players to a radio station.
From then on, beating all odds, the team from Gávea won all away matches: Atlético-MG (1-3), Náutico (0-2), and Corinthians (0-2). A sensational run that took the club from mid-table positions to the top of the table by the end of the penultimate round.
The return leg performance was exceptional, but Flamengo also earned crucial points away from home in the first half. Among them was a draw with then-three-time national champion São Paulo at Morumbi Stadium and a victory over Santos at Vila Belmiro Stadium, breaking a 30-year-old record at the venue.
See how the five best-placed teams performed away from home:
Flamengo - 26 points
International - 25 points
Sao Paulo - 23 points
Cruzeiro - 29 points
Palmeiras - 19 points