Batalha dos Aflitos (2005)
| Event | 2005 Campeonato Brasileiro Série B - Play-offs | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|||||||
| Date | 26 November 2005 | ||||||
| Venue | Estádio dos Aflitos, Recife, Pernambuco | ||||||
| Referee | Djalma Beltrami | ||||||
| Attendance | 29,891 | ||||||
The Batalha dos Aflitos (English: Battle of the Afflicted) is a name used by the Brazilian press to refer to a memorable Campeonato Brasileiro Série B play-off match played on Saturday, 26 November 2005 between Náutico and Grêmio. The name, Batalha dos Aflitos, is used in reference to Náutico's stadium, the Estádio dos Aflitos, in the city of Recife, where the match was played and also to the enormous tension demonstrated by both clubs during the game, hence the term, Batalha (English: Battle). The eventual winners, in the occasion Grêmio, would be promoted to the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A in 2006.
Grêmio, considered one of the most important football teams in Brazil, was under a very delicate moment on its history, with financial problems and playing in the second division of Brazilian football after a traumatic Brazilian Championship in 2004. On the other hand, Náutico, also a very popular club in Brazil, was trying to return to the main division of Brazilian Championship after 11 years.
The Série B Championship was in the final round, in which the best 4 teams through the championship played against each other to define the champion - both champion and runner-up would be promoted back to the main division in the next year. Before the sixth round, Grêmio was leading with 9 points, with Santa Cruz, also from Recife, in second with 7 points, Náutico with 6 points and Portuguesa, from São Paulo, in last position with 5. The last game between Santa Cruz and Portuguesa was being played simultaneously, and finished 2-1 to Santa Cruz.
...
Wikipedia