On the day that marks exactly 44 years of the only world title won by the club on December 13, 1981, Flamengo qualified this Saturday (13) for the final of the Intercontinental Cup and will have a new opportunity to seek a second title.
In an afternoon inspired by Arrascaeta as server and by Léo Pereira and Danilo as top scorers, the Brazilian team beat Pyramids, from Egypt, 2-0.
Both defenders scored with headers after free kicks from the Uruguayan midfielder. Léo Pereira opened the scoring in the 23rd minute of the first half, and Danilo doubled the score in the 6th minute of the last half.
With the qualification, Flamengo will face the long-awaited duel against PSG, next Wednesday (17), at 2 p.m. (Brasilia time), at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, in Al Rayyan, Qatar — the same scene as the victory against the Egyptian team, in front of a reduced audience: 8,368 people, a number slightly higher than the approximately 7,100 supporters who attended the triumph against Cruz Azul, in the quarterfinals.
Despite the expectations of the red and black supporters, the confrontation was not the outcome desired by the coach of the French club. Luis Enrique said he wanted Pyramids to qualify. “My preference is not Flamengo, that’s clear. We saw the Libertadores final. We haven’t analyzed it in depth, but we know the (Flamengo) team. It’s a very good team, with quality players, experience and a great coach,” he said.
This will be the fourth meeting between the clubs in history. The results are equal, with one victory for each team and one draw. The Brazilian team won a friendly match in 1975 by 2-0. In 1979, still in a friendly, they beat PSG: 3-1. The most recent duel took place in 1991, at the Paris Tournament, with a 1-1 draw.
In addition to the strength of the opponent, Enrique expressed concern about the wear and tear of his team. PSG has not yet arrived in Qatar and, at the same time as the match between Flamengo and Pyramids, they were playing in the French championship, against Metz. Even if some players were spared, the scenario is far from ideal for playing a high-level match on Wednesday.
Even so, the European team is considered the favorite, as they will take the field as the reigning Champions League champions. PSG was also runner-up in the first edition of the Club World Cup, played this year in the United States, won by Chelsea.
Flamengo, meanwhile, is already based in Qatar. The duel against Pyramids was the club’s second in the country. In the quarterfinals, the Brazilian team eliminated Cruz Azul of Mexico. In the event of another triumph, the Rio team will win its second world championship and will be able to place another cup next to the trophy won in 1981, with the 3-0 victory over Liverpool, in the old Club World Cup format.
About The Author
