Four major clubs dominate the football scene  in the city of Rio de Janeiro. Perhaps  the Flamengo x Vasco da Gama derby is the most rivarly . Fluminense x Botafogo for sure is the oldest. Flamengo x Botafogo  also have a rich history that has been emphasizing in recent years but the most traditional classic of Brazilian football certainly remains the Fla-Flu.


Since then the magic of this confrontation has grown beyond the football and influenced Brazilian culture in several areas.
In 1933 the journalist Mário Filho named the derby with this truncation and the term became so popular that it`s including mentioned in the Flamengo`s unofficial anthem and even in the anthem of Bangu, another club from Rio.
The world record football match attendance between clubs is a Fla 0-0 Flu with 194,603 (177,656 ps.) in 1963 at Maracanã.
The two rivals symbolically polarize the social antagonism to transform into a carnival spectacle

The big theater at its two extremes

Fla: the slum people, the nigger, the poor, the mass, the nation, party in the favela

Flu: the high society, the nobility, the rich,the playboy, the aristocracy of Rio in three colors

It is impossible to describe here the atmosphere of this game with so many stories. I personally have experienced great moments at this exciting and colorful battle. Even in the worst moments, as in 1995(year of the Fla`s centenary) when Flu won by 3-2 in the last minute and became champion. A weird goal by the belly of Renato Gaúcho decided the game for Flu which had Joel Santana  as coach. Flamengo with Romário, Branco, Sávio trained by Wanderley Luxemburgo lost the final in Maracanã with more than 120.000 crazy fans. Was sad for me but unforgettable anyway.

 URUGUAYAN WRITER EDUARDO GALEANO ABOUT THE DERBY

                                                    The Present

The last FLA-FLU in April 12 was good for Flamengo, the victory by 1-0 put Mengo on Carioca´s final and now as 2009 champion  Fla beat Flu as the biggest winner of Rio de Janeiro championship, 31x30 titles.

They will meet again by the 8ºround of Brasileirão . Fla (6ºplaced) with Adriano and Flu (11º) with Fred, a duel between two dangerous attackers is scheduled for this Sunday at Maracanã. Place your bets!