[2] The two clubs practically monopolize the Campeonato Mineiro, and have clashed in decisive matches in the Brasileirão, Copa do Brasil and continental CONMEBOL competitions of.

In 1942, due to the enmity between Brazil and Italy in the World War II, Palestra had to change its name to Cruzeiro.

Atlético had not hired a referee from Rio de Janeiro, as it had been agreed, then gave a list to Palestra with three others from Minas Gerais, which the Italians refused.

The Federation tried to reschedule the match, but Palestra Itália left the entity, which ended up proclaming Galo the champions.

Only in 1959, the Superior Court of Sport Justice (STJD) gave the points of the second match to Cruzeiro, legitimizing the club's claim.

As the finals were now tied and the clubs were against the idea of scheduling a fourth match, the Federation proclaimed both Atlético and Cruzeiro the champions.

[6] The first derby outside of Minas Gerais took place on June 16, 1960, in a friendly match at the Israel Pinheiro Stadium in Brasília, Brazil's recentely founded capital.

The clubs were invited to celebrate the peace between the two, by the president Juscelino Kubitschek, born in Minas Gerais and a Cruzeiro fan.

[8] The Estádio Governardor Magalhães Pinto, better known as Mineirão, opened on September 5, 1965, and became the home ground of both teams for decades.

In the 79th minute of the match, when Cruzeiro was winning 1–0 with a goal from Tostão, the referee Juan de La Passion Artéz rawarded a penalty to the Raposa.

With a richly talented team comprising Raul, Piazza, Dirceu Lopes, Natal and Tostão, the Foxes won the 1966 Campeonato Brasileiro and five successive state titles from 1965 to 1969, as Atlético were the runners-up on four occasions.

[11] By the mid-70s and 80s, Atlético Mineiro established an impressive cast of players of their own, with João Leite, Luizinho, Cerezo, Paulo Isidoro, Nelinho, Éder and Reinaldo making them one of the most revered forces in Brazilian football.

[2] In the quarterfinals of the 1986 Campeonato Brasileiro, Atlético and Cruzeiro faced each other for the first time in the knock-out stage of a national tournament.

The rivalry between the supporters of Atlético and Cruzeiro is very heated and can be seen in numerous provocative flags, tifos, chants and player celebrations towards the opposing side on derby days,[15][16] in addition to some violent conflicts between groups of fans.

[17] Regarding to nicknames, Atlético fans refer to Cruzeiro supporters as "marias", a play on the name of their rivals' main Torcida organizada, Máfia Azul (Blue Mafia).