Undefeated champion, Flamengo ends campaign with 94.87% success

Flamengo became on Saturday (29) the first undefeated champion of the Copa Libertadores since Corinthians obtained the feat in 2012. The team from Rio closed the campaign with a 1-0 victory over Athletico Paranaense, in Guayaquil, lifting the cup with 94.87% of use.

The index is only inferior to the 100% registered by Estudiantes, in 1969. At the time, the Argentine team defended the title and entered the competition in the final stage, reaching the trophy with four triumphs in four matches.

In 2022, the Gávea club had to play from the group stage, in a bracket with Argentine Talleres, Chilean Universidad Católica and Peruvian Sporting Cristal. Their only draw was against Talleres, away from home.

In the playoffs, only Flamengo came out. The team beat Colombian Tolima twice (1-0 and 7-1), twice against Corinthians (2-0 and 1-0) and twice against Vélez Sarsfield (4-0 and 2-1) until they found Athletico in Ecuador, in the single-game final.

The trajectory of 12 triumphs and a draw earned the club an accumulated prize of US$ 23.55 million (R$ 125.9 million). Elected best player in the competition —and top scorer, with 12 goals—, the striker said he was held at the Monumental stadium.

“It’s a dream come true, a childhood dream. I came from the stands and now I can live it on the field. It’s a wonderful feeling. It was a lot of work, a lot of effort rewarded”, he said.

The tone of the sacrifice was also adopted by Arrascaeta. The Uruguayan midfielder, who has been living with pubalgia, entered the field clearly limited and was constantly pursued by midfielder Hugo Moura.

“The title was based on overcoming. We had not started the year very well and had to turn around, but the team showed that quality helps and that having a strong head is much better. I had some problems, but is to congratulate everyone who helped me to recover”, said shirt 14.

Arrascaeta will now focus on gathering good conditions to defend his country in the World Cup. Then there will be another World Cup ahead, that of clubs, at a date and place that will still be confirmed by FIFA (International Football Federation) — probably in February, in the United States.

In addition to Flamengo, the Spanish Real Madrid, the Moroccan Wydad Casablanca, the North American Seattle Sounders and the New Zealander Auckald City are classified. The representative of Asia and the team of the host country will still be defined.

The red-black formation will start the dispute in the semifinals and will again count on the aim of Gabriel Barbosa, Gabigol. Once again, in Ecuador, he showed his decision-making power and scored the title goal.
Shirt 9 had already defined the 2019 conquest. In trouble, Flamengo lost to Flamengo and had two balls placed in the net by the top scorer to turn.

Last year, the team lost 2-1, but Gabigol left his mark. In three Libertadores finals, therefore, he has four goals.

“Another title and another goal. It looks like the first in the final, it’s always special. Now it’s until January celebrating, because next year we have to be in the final again”, smiled the São Bernardo do Campo. “I feel at home, flamengo and carioca since I was little.”