Atlético and Cruzeiro football rivalry
Encyclopedia
Atlético–Cruzeiro football rivalry (or Atlético e Cruzeiro or Belo Horizonte Derby) is the name of the biggest "clássico" (derby) in the city of Belo Horizonte
and in the state of Minas Gerais
, Brazil
. The two clubs are widely known in their clássico's for their two mascots, Cruzeiro
, the "raposa" (fox) and Atlético
, the "galo" (rooster), (these mascots were created by cartoonist
Fernando Pieruccetti, popularly known as Mangabeira). Their rivalry began when the Mineirão
was built and caused the old Atlético x América clássico to die down and gave way to the new Belo Horizonte derby.
The first encounter between the two took place on April 17, 1921, with Palestra winning by 3-0. The first champiionship game between the two took place on May 15, 1921, Atlético winning by 2-1.
Cruzeiro's version:
The magazine Placar, which specializes in football
, published on May 2005 a special edition on the big clássicos brasileiros and it used Cruzeiro's version.
* Brazilian Championship includes the tournaments known as Taça Brasil (1959–1968), Torneio Roberto Gomes Pedrosa (1967-70) and Campeonato Brasileiro Série A (1971-today).
** Brazilian regional cups includes the tournaments known as Torneio dos Campeões Estaduais (1937), Copa Centro-Oeste
(1999–2002) and Copa Sul-Minas
(2000–2002).
*** Other international cups includes the tournaments known as Recopa Sudamericana
(1989-today), Supercopa Libertadores (1988–1997), Copa CONMEBOL
(1992–1999), Copa Oro
(1993–1996) and Supercopa Masters
(1992–1994).
Belo Horizonte
Belo Horizonte is the capital of and largest city in the state of Minas Gerais, located in the southeastern region of Brazil. It is the third largest metropolitan area in the country...
and in the state of Minas Gerais
Minas Gerais
Minas Gerais is one of the 26 states of Brazil, of which it is the second most populous, the third richest, and the fourth largest in area. Minas Gerais is the Brazilian state with the largest number of Presidents of Brazil, the current one, Dilma Rousseff, being one of them. The capital is the...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. The two clubs are widely known in their clássico's for their two mascots, Cruzeiro
Cruzeiro Esporte Clube
Cruzeiro Esporte Clube is a Brazilian football team, from Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, and are one of the only five clubs to have never been relegated, along with Santos, São Paulo, Flamengo and Internacional. Founded on January 2, 1921, they are only one of three clubs to have participated in...
, the "raposa" (fox) and Atlético
Clube Atlético Mineiro
Clube Atlético Mineiro , are a Brazilian football club based in Belo Horizonte, the oldest in the city. Founded in 1908, they play in the Campeonato Mineiro and Campeonato Brasileiro Série A or Brasileirão. Atlético Mineiro have been Brazilian champions once, state winners a record 40 times and...
, the "galo" (rooster), (these mascots were created by cartoonist
Cartoonist
A cartoonist is a person who specializes in drawing cartoons. This work is usually humorous, mainly created for entertainment, political commentary or advertising...
Fernando Pieruccetti, popularly known as Mangabeira). Their rivalry began when the Mineirão
Mineirão
Mineirão , officially Estádio Governador Magalhães Pinto established in 1965 in Belo Horizonte, is the largest football stadium in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, and the second largest in the country, after Maracanã...
was built and caused the old Atlético x América clássico to die down and gave way to the new Belo Horizonte derby.
History
Atlético Mineiro was founded in the early years of the 20th Century, on March 25, 1908. Cruzeiro was founded 13 years later, on January 2, 1921, by people of the Italian colony in Belo Horizonte, with the name of Palestra Italia. In 1942, because the rivalry between Brazil and Italy in the World War II, Palestra had to change their name to Cruzeiro.The first encounter between the two took place on April 17, 1921, with Palestra winning by 3-0. The first champiionship game between the two took place on May 15, 1921, Atlético winning by 2-1.
- Atlético Mineiro dominated the "Campeonato da Cidade" era in the Minas Gerais state football, winning 19 trophies between 1915 and 1957. In the same period, Cruzeiro won just 9 trophies.
- With the start of the "Campeonato Mineiro" era in Minas Gerais state football, Cruzeiro became the most successful team, winning 27 trophies between 1958 and 2010. In the same period, Atlético Mineiro won 21 trophies.
- The construction of Mineirão symbolized the beginning of a successful period for Minas Gerais football. From 1965 to 2010, Cruzeiro won 24 trophies of Minas Gerais state championship, while Atlético won 18 trophies in the same period.
- Cruzeiro won 5-in-a-row titles of Minas Gerais state championship between 1965 and 1969, while Atlético Mineiro won 6--in-a-row titles of the same championship between 1978 and 1983.
- In 1966, Cruzeiro became the first Minas Gerais' team to win a Brazilian national title, the Taça Brasil, winning the two legs of the final, against the PeléPeléHowever, Pelé has always maintained that those are mistakes, that he was actually named Edson and that he was born on 23 October 1940.), best known by his nickname Pelé , is a retired Brazilian footballer. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time...
's Santos FC, by 6-2 and 3-2.
- In 1971, Atlético Mineiro became the champion of the first edition of the Brazilian Championship.
- In 1976, Cruzeiro became the first Brazilian team, after the Pelé's Santos FC, to win the Copa Libertadores.
- In 1991, Cruzeiro became the first braziliam team to win the Supercopa Libertadores. The club won this title again in 1992.
- In 1992, Atlético Mineiro became the first braziliam team to win the Copa CONMEBOLCopa CONMEBOLThe Copa CONMEBOL was an annual football cup competition organized by CONMEBOL between 1992 and 1999 for eligible South American football clubs. During its time of existence, it was the third most prestigious South American club football contest after the Copa Libertadores and Supercopa...
. The club won this title again in 1997.
- In 1997, Cruzeiro won their second Copa Libertadores title.
- In 2003, Cruzeiro conquered their first Brazilian Championship title. In the same season, the club won their 4th Brazilian Cup title, becoming the most successful team in this competition, along with Grêmio FBPA. With these two titles, Cruzeiro became the first club to win the two Brazilian most important competitions in the same year. Also became the only Brazilian team to won the Domestic treble (Brazilian Championship, Brazilian Cup and Minas Gerais state championship in the same season).
- In 2005 Atlético Mineiro was relegated to the second level of Brazilian Championship. The club won the Serie B in 2006, returning to the first level of Brazilian football in 2007.
Statistics
The history of this match-up is very controversial even on the statistics. Cruzeiro and Atlético both present different versions.Head-to-head
Atlético's version:| Club | G | W | D | L | F | A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlético | 456 | 187 | 120 | 151 | 644 | 557 |
| Cruzeiro | 457 | 151 | 120 | 187 | 557 | 644 |
Cruzeiro's version:
| Club | G | W | D | L | F | A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlético | 440 | 176 | 118 | 150 | 622 | 554 |
| Cruzeiro | 441 | 150 | 118 | 176 | 554 | 622 |
The magazine Placar, which specializes in football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
, published on May 2005 a special edition on the big clássicos brasileiros and it used Cruzeiro's version.
Titles by club
| Championship | Atlético Mineiro | Cruzeiro |
|---|---|---|
| Minas Gerais state C'ship Campeonato Mineiro Campeonato Mineiro is the state football league of the state of Minas Gerais and is controlled by the Minas Gerais Football Federation FMF .... |
40 | 36 |
| Brazilian Championship Campeonato Brasileiro Série A The Campeonato Brasileiro de Clubes da Série A , popularly known as the Brasileirão , is a professional football league at the top of the Brazilian football league system held annually since 1959. Contested by twenty clubs, it operates a system of promotion and relegation with the Série B... * |
1 | 2 |
| Brazilian Cup Copa do Brasil The Copa Kia do Brasil, commonly known as Copa do Brasil , is a knockout competition played by 64 association football teams, representing all 26 Brazilian states plus the Federal District... |
0 | 4 |
| Brazilian regional cups ** | 1 | 3 |
| Copa Libertadores | 0 | 2 |
| Other International cups *** | 2 | 5 |
* Brazilian Championship includes the tournaments known as Taça Brasil (1959–1968), Torneio Roberto Gomes Pedrosa (1967-70) and Campeonato Brasileiro Série A (1971-today).
** Brazilian regional cups includes the tournaments known as Torneio dos Campeões Estaduais (1937), Copa Centro-Oeste
Copa Centro-Oeste
Copa Centro-Oeste was a Brazilian football competition contested between Center-West region teams.Minas Gerais state clubs only competed in the first Copa Centro-Oeste edition, joining the new Copa Sul-Minas in 2000....
(1999–2002) and Copa Sul-Minas
Copa Sul-Minas
Copa Sul-Minas was a Brazilian football competition contested between South region and Minas Gerais state teams.From 2000 to 2002, the Copa Sul-Minas champions granted qualification to the Copa dos Campeões....
(2000–2002).
*** Other international cups includes the tournaments known as Recopa Sudamericana
Recopa Sudamericana
The Recopa Sudamericana is an annual football match-up between the reigning champions of the previous year's Copa Libertadores and the Copa Sudamericana, South America's premier club competitions....
(1989-today), Supercopa Libertadores (1988–1997), Copa CONMEBOL
Copa CONMEBOL
The Copa CONMEBOL was an annual football cup competition organized by CONMEBOL between 1992 and 1999 for eligible South American football clubs. During its time of existence, it was the third most prestigious South American club football contest after the Copa Libertadores and Supercopa...
(1992–1999), Copa Oro
Copa Oro
The Copa de Oro , or Copa de Oro Nicolás Leoz, was a football club competition contested annually by the winners of the Copa Libertadores de América, the Supercopa Sudamericana, the Copa CONMEBOL, and the Supercopa Masters...
(1993–1996) and Supercopa Masters
Supercopa Masters
The Supercopa Masters, also known as Copa Master de Supercopa, was a football tournament for clubs that had previously won the Supercopa Sudamericana. It was only played in 1992 and 1995.-1992 Supercopa Masters:...
(1992–1994).
Other statistics
- Largest Atlético victory : 9 x 2 on November 27, 1927
- Largest Cruzeiro victories : 5 x 0 on April 27, 2008; 5 x 0 again April 26, 2009
- First time both teams played against each other abroad: Cruzeiro victory: 4 x 2 - Montevideo, Uruguay (Torneo de Verano) - January 17, 2009
- Games played at the MineirãoMineirãoMineirão , officially Estádio Governador Magalhães Pinto established in 1965 in Belo Horizonte, is the largest football stadium in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, and the second largest in the country, after Maracanã...
: 215 - Atlético victories : 70
- Cruzeiro victories : 77
- Cruzeiro goals : 244
- Atlético goals : 228
- Draws : 69
- Last match : Atlético 2 x 1 Cruzeiro , on May 8, 2011 at "Arena do Jacaré", Sete Lagoas - MG - Brazil.
Largest attendance
- Atlético 0 x 1 Cruzeiro, 129,296, May 4, 1969
- Atlético 1 x 3 Cruzeiro, 122,534, November 9, 1977
- Atlético 1 x 3 Cruzeiro, 115,983, October 26, 1980
- Atlético 1 x 2 Cruzeiro, 112,919, November 8, 1981
- Atlético 1 x 2 Cruzeiro, 110,432, June 2, 1968
- Atlético 1 x 2 Cruzeiro, 109,363, December 15, 1974
- Atlético 2 x 3 Cruzeiro, 108,935, December 5, 1982
- Atlético 1 x 2 Cruzeiro, 106,155, August 2, 1970
- Atlético 2 x 4 Cruzeiro, 103,725, April 3, 1977
- Atlético 2 x 5 Cruzeiro, 101,404, April 25, 1976