The rivalry developed in the 1980s from numerous controversial encounters between the two clubs in that decade's Campeonato Brasileiro and Copa Libertadores editions.

[1][2] The first encounter between the two teams happened on 16 June 1929, a friendly in Atlético's home ground, the Presidente Antônio Carlos stadium, which Flamengo won 3–2.

Until then, matches between clubs from the states of Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais were mostly friendly, with an exception happening during the 1937 Copa dos Campeões Estaduais.

Flamengo won the 1972 edition of the tournament, played in a single round-robin, with Atlético Mineiro finishing as runner-up.

The match was won by the Rio de Janeiro club 5–1, and Atlético Mineiro players were irritated by what they saw as "excessive force" for a friendly game.

[8][9] As Brasileirão champion and runner-up, both clubs qualified for the 1981 Copa Libertadores, in which they were drawn in a group with Paraguayan teams Olimpia and Cerro Porteño.

Left with seven players, Atlético's goalkeeper João Leite simulated an injury at the restart of the match, but Wright refused to stop the game.

[12] The episode and referee Wright's performance were described by Brazilian and South American media as "shameful", "deplorable" and "opprobrium".

In 2009, while both teams were in contention for the Série A title, a 3–1 Flamengo victory at the Mineirão, for the competition's 34th round, proved significant for the outcome of the season.

Eventually, Atlético finished the season in seventh place after losing its four remaining matches, while Flamengo were crowned champions for the sixth time.

[18] Atlético eventually finished second in the competition behind Flamengo's local rivals Fluminense, but Ronaldinho won three titles with the Minas Gerais club, including the 2013 Copa Libertadores.