With two from Gabigol and one from Arrascaeta, Flamengo beat Atlético-MG 3-1 this Sunday (3), at Maracanã, and took an important step towards winning the Copa do Brasil title.
The result guarantees an advantage to the Rio team, who can keep the cup even if they lose by a goal difference in the second leg of the final, on November 10th, at Arena MRV, in Belo Horizonte, also from 4pm (time of Brasilia).
Rubro Negro opened the scoring in the Maracanã with a goal from Arrascaeta just 10 minutes into the first half. Gabigol received the ball inside the area and tried a strong finish, which ended up being saved by Everson. On the rebound, the Uruguayan player managed to fill the net.
In the 29th minute, Léo Pereira had the chance to extend the advantage with a strong shot from the middle of the field, which ended in a great save by the Minas Gerais goalkeeper. Still in the first 45 minutes, however, the red and black team expanded: Gabigol, in the 38th minute, made it 2-0.
Atlético-MG had good chances to score from the first minutes of the dispute, but failed to finish and suffered from Flamengo pressure, on the field, with few spaces for risky movements, and also in the stands, where 67,469 fans, the majority of the home team, sang all the time.
In the 28th minute of the second half, Gabigol found the net again, now with the Rio team’s third goal, after a pass from Alcaraz and a cross finish. The move finally woke up the Minas Gerais club, who scored the first and only goal in the match with Alan Kardec, in the 34th minute.
Atlético-MG and Flamengo reached the final of the Copa do Brasil with very different trajectories. With four wins, three draws and only one defeat so far, Atlético is going through a great phase and seeks to honor the work of coach Gabriel Milito with the competition cup.
To reach the decision of the Copa do Brasil, the team’s strong point was its home games, at Arena MRV, with support from the fans and positive scores. Before facing Flamengo, the Minas Gerais team beat current champion São Paulo, as well as Sport, CRB and Vasco da Gama.
Even though it is not experiencing its best moment, Flamengo is seeking the title of five-time champion to honor the arrival of coach and former red-and-black player Filipe Luís, in charge of the team since Tite’s dismissal. Before beating Atlético-MG this Sunday, the Cariocas eliminated Amazonas, Palmeiras, Bahia and Corinthians. In total, the Gávea team now has seven wins, one draw and one defeat in the tournament.
Two-time champions, Atlético are looking for their third title in the Copa do Brasil after three years of waiting. The Minas Gerais club lifted the competition cup for the last time, under the command of Cuca, in 2021, when they won the triple crown, with the victory of the Campeonato Mineiro, the Campeonato Brasileiro and the Copa do Brasil.
Atleticanos’ first victory in the competition took place in the 2014 edition. Then, in 2016, the team finished runner-up, after losing the final against Grêmio. Coach Gabriel Milito’s team is also in the final of the Copa Libertadores da América against Botafogo, scheduled for November 30th.
Flamengo is four-time champion of the Copa do Brasil. The Rio club lifted the cup in 1990, 2006, 2013 and 2022. However, Rubro Negro was also in five other finals, including in the 2023 edition, when they finished runner-up after losing to São Paulo.
