Flamengo Defeats Botafogo to Win Brazil Super Cup for a Third Time

Flamengo defeated their rival Botafogo 3-1 on the afternoon of Sunday, February 2, and claimed the Supercopa do Brasil, the title that kicks off the Brazilian season by pitting the Serie A champion against the previous season's Copa do Brasil winner.

Bruno Henrique and Luiz Araújo Lead Flamengo to Victory

The match, held in a neutral venue every year, occurred at Estádio Mangueirão in Pará, the northern Brazil state with no teams in the country's top division. With two goals from Bruno Henrique and one from former Atlanta United player Luiz Araújo, Flamengo won the tournament for the third time in the last six years.
Under heavy rain, Flamengo started the match stronger and scored the opening goal in the 12th minute with a penalty converted by Bruno Henrique. Shortly after, in the 15th minute, the referee halted the game due to poor field conditions caused by the heavy rain.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by FIFA Club World Cup (@fifaclubworldcup)

After a one-hour and sixteen-minute interruption, play resumed. Flamengo, led by Filipe Luís—former Chelsea, Atlético Madrid, and Flamengo player—continued to dominate their rivals and current Copa Libertadores champions. In the 20th minute, following a play that started with Argentine goalkeeper Agustín Rossi, forward Michael found Bruno Henrique unmarked on the right wing, where he scored a stunning goal to extend Flamengo's lead in the final.
The onslaught didn't stop there. Flamengo continued to dominate Botafogo for the rest of the first half, giving the black-and-white team no chance to get anywhere near goalkeeper Rossi's goal.

Botafogo started the second half well but was constantly stopped by Flamengo's outstanding midfield performances, particularly from Uruguayan international Nico De La Cruz and Chilean Erick Pulgar. The defensive quartet, consisting of right-back Wesley—who has offers from Europe—Brazilian national team center-backs Léo Ortiz and Léo Pereira, and experienced left-back Alex Sandro, formerly of Juventus and Porto, also delivered strong performances and deserve recognition.
Flamengo extended their lead with another stunning goal, this time from left-winger Luiz Araújo, formerly of Atlanta United, who came on in the second half. Down the flank, Luiz found himself one-on-one with goalkeeper John and delicately chipped the ball over him, sending it into the back of the net to make it 3-0. Botafogo pulled one back with a rebound goal from midfielder Patrick de Paula, but it wasn't enough to spark a comeback. The final score was 3-1, and Flamengo was crowned champions.

Filipe Luís' Impressive Coaching Record

The match also marked the debut of defender Danilo, recently signed from Juventus, who came on in the 92nd minute and played his first minutes in the Flamengo jersey.
This is Filipe Luís' second title as head coach of Flamengo's senior team. The first was last year's Copa do Brasil, which allowed Flamengo to compete in the Supercopa. Under his leadership, Flamengo holds a record of 12 wins, five draws, and just 1 loss—meaning Filipe has won more titles than he has suffered defeats as the team's manager.

Botafogo's Coaching Situation and Club World Cup Outlook

Botafogo's match with their main squad was only their second match of the year. The team has been in preseason mode without a head coach since January 4. According to reports from Brazil, the club is in negotiations with former Flamengo and Brazil national team coach Adenor "Tite" and Italian manager Roberto Mancini.
Both teams, set to face each other again in 10 days, will compete in the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States this June. Flamengo is in Group D alongside Chelsea (ENG), Espérance (TUN), and León (MEX). Meanwhile, Botafogo is in Group B with Paris Saint-Germain (FRA), Atlético Madrid (ESP), and Seattle Sounders (USA).