Brazil’s unprecedented domination of the Copa Libertadores — no country has ever come close to winning seven titles in a row — has come about despite the mammoth amount of minutes the nation’s top players have to play.
Flamengo and Palmeiras have broken away from the pack. The two giants have now claimed the last five continental titles between them, and, in the next few days, Flamengo look likely to wrap up the Brazilian Serie A title too — prolonging the celebrations after winning the Saturday’s Libertadores final 1-0.Palmeiras, for their part, will run a close second in a championship that has been won by either the *Mengão* or the *Verdão* in seven of the last 10 seasons.
The price the two clubs pay for such success is an accumulation of matches and a burden on the players that borders on inhumane.
Representing a number of different national teams, the majority of Flamengo and Palmeiras players were in action during the recent FIFA international window. On the Tuesday,then,many were playing in Europe,Mexico or the United States. The next day, they were back on the field in crunch domestic games. With Flamengo and Palmeiras going toe-to-toe for the domestic title, there was no chance for anyone to take their foot off the pedal.
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This clearly took some of the shine away from Saturday’s Copa Libertadores decider in Lima, when an eagerly awaited “final of the century” turned into an attritional battle. The Libertadores final was a very different match from the shining, open and attractive encounter they fought out in the league in the middle of last month.
Flamengo won that one 3-2 — and there were many more goals in the Maracana that day than efforts on target in lima. It needs a somewhat charitable approach to statistics to find the two attempts on target that the official statistics awarded to Flamengo. Most will only recall## Flamengo’s Grueling Season: Libertadores Champions Aim for Domestic and Intercontinental Glory
Flamengo is experiencing a relentlessly demanding season, marked by a historic Copa Libertadores triumph and a continued push for domestic and international titles. After securing their fourth Libertadores title, the Brazilian powerhouse faces a packed schedule that includes vying for the Brazilian Série A championship and competing in the Intercontinental Cup, perhaps culminating in a match against Paris Saint-Germain. The sheer volume of matches raises questions about the sustainability of such a demanding schedule for player well-being and the overall quality of play.
## A Historic Libertadores victory
Flamengo’s journey to Libertadores glory wasn’t without its challenges. Despite a 2-0 defeat away to fellow Brazilian side Internacional in the first knockout round, they persevered and ultimately claimed their fourth Copa Libertadores title, becoming the first Brazilian team to achieve this milestone. ESPN reports that Flamengo defeated Paraguay’s Libertad in the final to secure the championship.
## Domestic Ambitions and the Brazilian Série A Title
The club now turns its attention to securing the Brazilian Série A title. Flamengo has the opportunity to clinch the championship on Wednesday in front of their home fans at the Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. if they fail to secure the title then, they have another chance on Sunday. Related reading