Corinthians struggle against Flamengo again, put off feat last hit in 2016 | OneFootball

Corinthians will have to wait at least one more season to go a full year without losing to Flamengo again. On Sunday afternoon (13), Timão lost 2-1 to the Rio de Janeiro side at the Maracanã in the 27th round of the Brazilian Championship, missing the chance to repeat a feat last achieved ten years ago.

Fernando Diniz’s team came into the third meeting between the clubs in 2026 without a single defeat in the matchup. Up to that point, the record stood at one win and one draw, but the result in Rio de Janeiro kept alive a trend that has followed Corinthians since 2017: in every season in which they have faced Flamengo, the club has suffered at least one defeat.

Photo: Rodrigo Coca/Agência Corinthians

At the Maracanã, Corinthians went into halftime ahead after Gui Negão found the net. In the second half, however, Flamengo came from behind and won 2-1, ending the black-and-white side’s unbeaten run in the matchup in 2026.

Corinthians started 2026 with a title against Flamengo

Before this Sunday’s setback, Corinthians had a positive record against the opponent this season. The first chapter came in February, with a trophy on the line.

In the Supercopa Rei, played at Mané Garrincha Stadium in Brasília, Corinthians beat Flamengo 2-0. Gabriel Paulista and Yuri Alberto scored the goals that secured the title for the club from Parque São Jorge.

The teams met again a little more than a month later. In the first half of the Brazilian Championship, Timão hosted Rubro-Negro at Neo Química Arena and drew 1-1. Yuri Alberto once again scored Corinthians’ goal.

That meant Corinthians arrived in Rio de Janeiro needing only to avoid defeat to complete 2026 without losing to Flamengo. The comeback suffered at the Maracanã, however, prevented the end of the long wait for an unbeaten season against their rival.

2016 mark remains intact

The last time Corinthians managed to go through a season without losing to Flamengo was in 2016. That year, the two meetings came in the Brazilian Championship, with one black-and-white win and one draw.

Since then, the scenario has not been repeated. In 2017, Corinthians drew one match and lost the other. The following year, the clubs faced each other four times, with one Corinthians win, one draw, and two defeats.

In 2019, Flamengo held a clear edge: three wins and one draw in four meetings. The record was even worse for Timão in the next two seasons, as all four matches played between 2020 and 2021 ended in wins for the Rio side.

The 2022 calendar brought six matches between Corinthians and Flamengo, including knockout clashes. The record ended balanced, with two wins for each side and two draws, but once again there were black-and-white defeats during the year.

In 2023, Corinthians posted one draw and one defeat. In 2024, they won once, drew once, and lost in two matches. Last season, in 2025, both meetings ended in Flamengo victories.

The start of 2026, therefore, had opened up a rare possibility in a decade. Timão won the Supercopa Rei and drew in the first round of the Brasileirão, but the loss in the third meeting extended the wait for a full unbeaten season against Flamengo.

Historical record further increases Rio side’s advantage

This Sunday’s result also widened Flamengo’s lead in the overall head-to-head record. Before the match at the Maracanã, the clubs had faced each other 158 times, with 57 Corinthians wins, 35 draws, and 66 Flamengo victories.

With the 2-1 result in the 27th round, the derby reached 159 matches, now with 57 black-and-white wins, 35 draws, and 67 Flamengo victories.

The goal tally was also updated. There had been 464 before the clash, with 222 scored by Corinthians and 242 by Flamengo. With the three goals on Sunday, the fixture now totals 467 goals, with 223 for Timão and 244 for the Rio side.

Timão turns the page to Libertadores decider

Besides preventing the end of the taboo against Flamengo, the result deepened Corinthians’ poor run in the Brazilian Championship. The club reached a fifth straight defeat in the national competition.

Now, however, the Brasileirão temporarily takes a back seat. Fernando Diniz’s squad is turning its focus to one of the most important matches of the season.

Next Wednesday (16), at 9:30 p.m. Brasília time, Corinthians host Argentina’s Estudiantes at Neo Química Arena in the second leg of the Copa Libertadores quarterfinals. The first match, played in La Plata, ended in a 1-1 draw.

As a result, whoever wins in Itaquera will advance directly to the semifinals. If there is another draw, qualification will be decided on penalties.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.