Flamengo Beats Atlético-MG and Reclaims Leadership

Flamengo Beats Atlético-MG and Reclaims Leadership

SOCCER | 7/28/2025 | 3 min read

You know that saying that "soccer is art"? Forget it. What happened on Sunday at Maracanã was more like that Sunday kickabout at the beach: lots of sweat, little beauty, but what matters are the three points at the end of the day. Flamengo reclaimed the Brasileirão leadership by beating Atlético-MG 1-0, with a goal by Léo Ortiz, and that's it – another chapter written in this crazy soap opera that is Brasileirão 2025.

Now, let's agree on one thing: whoever expected one of those memorable spectacles was dreaming a bit too high. Galo came to do what everyone already knew – defend as if their lives depended on it and hope something would come out on the counterattack. Old strategy, but one that works (at least to a certain point).

The Game of Details

The curious thing is that Flamengo did exactly what they had to do: dominated possession, occupied the offensive field, and kept hammering the black-and-white defense the entire game. But here lies the problem – creativity has been somewhat lacking at the Nest lately. It's like the team is that guy who knows every word in the dictionary, but when it comes to writing poetry gets a bit stuck.

Actually, what saved the day was the good old set piece. Léo Ortiz rose like a rocket and sent it to the back of the net, reminding us all that sometimes soccer is simpler than we insist on complicating it. (And let's be honest, after so much trouble with finishing, any goal is already cause for celebration.)

Atlético-MG, for their part, did what they could. With an inconsistent campaign of five wins, five draws, and four losses in the Brasileirão, the Minas Gerais team didn't have much to invent anyway. They arrived in Rio knowing they needed a miracle to leave with something, and almost managed it – if it weren't for the individual quality of the red-and-black players.

The Old Art of Set Pieces

There's something interesting in this whole story: Flamengo is solving games through set pieces because they can't create much in open play. This isn't necessarily a problem – even the great European teams do this – but it's a symptom that some gears need oiling.

Filipe Luís must be scratching his head trying to find the magic formula to make this team play with more fluidity. Because it's one thing to beat Atlético-MG like this, quite another to do it against teams that will really fight at the top of the table.

Maracanã and Its Mysteries

There was a moment in the second half when you could feel that classic tension of a game that could turn at any moment. Galo managed some dangerous approaches, and for an instant it seemed we were going to have another one of those Sunday endings that leave everyone biting their nails.

But no. Flamengo held their ground with that tranquility of those who have been through this a thousand times. Rossí didn't have too much work, the defense functioned properly, and in the end it was another victory built on patience and competence.

(I confess I was a bit torn during the game – on one hand I wanted to see more beautiful soccer, on the other I knew what mattered was winning and reclaiming the leadership.)

Between Reality and Expectation

Here in Rio we have this habit of wanting every game to be a masterpiece, but sometimes it's good to remember that championships are won just like this: with ugly victories, set-piece goals, and lots of grit. Guardiola's Barcelona was beautiful to watch, but also lost many titles playing beautifully.

What catches my attention is how Flamengo is managing to maintain consistency even without shining much. It's three points here, three there, and when we look they're back at the top. This has a name: maturity.

Poor Atlético-MG continues in that limbo of not being bad enough to fight against relegation nor good enough to dream of titles. It's that middle ground that frustrates everyone – especially those who support them.

The Kickabout Stats

FLAMENGO:

• Tactical Formation: 4-2-3-1

• Ball Possession: 65%

• Shots: 14 (5 on goal)

• Corner Kicks: 8

• Fouls: 12

• Cards: 2 yellow

• Passes: 542 total (87% accuracy)

ATLÉTICO-MG:

• Tactical Formation: 5-3-2

• Ball Possession: 35%

• Shots: 7 (2 on goal)

• Corner Kicks: 3

• Fouls: 18

• Cards: 4 yellow

• Passes: 298 total (79% accuracy)

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