Fla–Flu

Flamengo's and Fluminense's supporters
Location	Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Teams	Flamengo Fluminense
First meeting	Fluminense 3–2 Flamengo 1912 Campeonato Carioca (LMSA) (July 7, 1912)
Latest meeting	Flamengo 1–1 Fluminense 2023 Campeonato Brasileiro (November 11, 2023)
Next meeting	Flamengo vs. Fluminense 2023 Campeonato Brasileiro (November 11, 2023)
Stadiums	Maracanã (Rio de Janeiro State Government)
Statistics
Meetings total	447 [1]
Top scorer	Zico (19)
All-time series	Flamengo: 162 Fluminense: 141 Draw: 144
Largest victory	Flamengo 7–0 Fluminense 1945 Torneio Municipal (June 10, 1945)

Fla–Flu (a truncation of Flamengo–Fluminense) is an association football match between cross-town rivals Flamengo and Fluminense. Matches take place in the 78,000-seat Maracanã Stadium, located near downtown Rio de Janeiro, in the city's Maracanã district. The world record football match attendance for a domestic game is 194,603 in a 1963 match between the two sides.^[2]

The moniker "Fla–Flu" was coined by the journalist Mário Filho during the professionalization of Rio de Janeiro's football.^[3]

Flamengo is the most successful team in the Campeonato Carioca. Flamengo has won it 37 times, Fluminense 33. In the Campeonato Brasileiro, Flamengo has won seven titles and Fluminense has won four titles; and in the Copa do Brasil, Flamengo has won four and Fluminense has won one. Flamengo has won three Copa Libertadores and one Intercontinental Cup. Fluminense has won one Copa Libertadores and the Copa Rio, which it claims to be equivalent to a world club tournament. Fluminense is the only football team in the world that holds the IOC's Olympic Cup ("Coupe Olympique" or "Taça Olímpica"), a non-competitive award for distinguished service in upholding the ideals of the Olympic Movement and to recognise the particular merits of institutions or associations and their services rendered to sport, conquered in 1949.

The rivalry between these two clubs began in October 1911, when a group of dissatisfied players from Fluminense left the club, and went to Flamengo, which at the time had no football department.^[4] The first Fla–Flu ever was played the following year, on July 7, 1912, at Laranjeiras stadium. Fluminense won this match 3–2, with 800 people in attendance.^[5]

The Fla–Flu matches are mentioned in Lamartine Babo's unofficial, but very popular, Flamengo anthem^[6] composed in 1942.^[7]

Important matches

On November 23, 1941, Flamengo and Fluminense disputed the Campeonato Carioca final, at Gávea Stadium. As the stadium is located in Lagoa neighborhood, the match was nicknamed Lagoa's Fla-Flu. The first half of the match ended 2–1 to Fluminense. Flamengo's Pirillo scored a goal in the 39th minute of the second half of the match, but Fluminense only needed a draw in the match, and won the competition. 15,312 people watched the match.^[8]

In 1991, the Campeonato Carioca final was again disputed between Flamengo and Fluminense. The first leg, played on December 13, ended in a 1–1 draw. In the second leg, played on December 19, Flamengo beat Fluminense 4–2. The Flamengo goals were scored by Uidemar, Gaúcho, Zinho and Júnior. Both Fluminense goals were scored by Ézio. Flamengo's Gaúcho was the top goalscorer of that competition.^[9]

In the Campeonato Carioca history, Fluminense beat Flamengo to the title in 1919, 1936, 1941, 1969, 1973, 1983, 1984, 1995, 2022 and 2023.^[10] Flamengo beat Fluminense in 1963, 1972, 1991, 2017,^[11] 2020^[12] and 2021.^[13] The Carioca had many formats over the years.^[14] However, there is disagreement in the decision criterion on the 1919, 1969 and 1983 championships, won by Fluminense. Discussion that gained strength among Flamengo fans in early 2021, days before the 2021 Carioca Football Championship final, when Flamengo had the chance to pass Fluminense with this new criterion.

One of the most famous matches^[15] between the two clubs was the 1995 Campeonato Carioca final stage match, played on June 25 of that year at Maracanã stadium. In this match, Fluminense's Renato Gaúcho scored a belly goal, and his team won the match 3–2. Fluminense finished the stage with 33 points, winning the title, and Flamengo finished one point behind its rival, losing the championship in the year of its centenary.^[16]

The 2004 Campeonato Carioca had two matches played between Flamengo and Fluminense. On February 1, Flamengo won by 4–3, after Fluminense had been 3–1 up at half-time. On February 21, Flamengo defeated Fluminense 3–2, which gave Flamengo the Taça Guanabara title of that year.^[17]

Highest attendances

1. Flamengo–Fluminense 0–0, 194,603 (177,656 paid), December 12, 1963
2. Flamengo–Fluminense 2–3, 171,599, June 15, 1969
3. Flamengo–Fluminense 0–0, 155,116, May 16, 1976
4. Flamengo–Fluminense 0–1, 153,520, December 16, 1984
5. Flamengo–Fluminense 0–2, 138,599, August 2, 1970
6. Flamengo–Fluminense 1–1, 138,557, April 22, 1979
7. Flamengo–Fluminense 5–2, 137,002, April 23, 1972
8. Flamengo–Fluminense 2–1, 136,829, September 7, 1972
9. Flamengo–Fluminense 3–3, 136,606, October 18, 1964
10. Flamengo–Fluminense 1–0, 124,432, September 23, 1979^[18]

Statistics

Latest updated: Flamengo 1–1 Fluminense (played on November 11, 2023)

References

• Enciclopédia do Futebol Brasileiro, Volume 1 - Lance, Rio de Janeiro: Aretê Editorial S/A, 2001.

External links

• FIFA website
• History of the Fla-Flu Rivalry