The Globe

United by Argentina, separated by football

Fans of Fla and Vasco, today's opponents at Maracanã, Argentines regret that their children support their rival

Photo caption: ALEJANDRO DUPONT is a Vasco fan and complains that his ten-year-old son is a fanatic for Jorge Sápia's Flamengo, whose son is a Vasco fan

Gian Amato

By trading the sun of the flag for the heat of Rio, immigrants from Argentina formed a colony. But what unites two Argentines in particular is the pain no father likes to feel. Brazilian or not, what upsets a soccer fan is seeing his son choose another team. It's worse when they prefer Flamengo or Vasco, tonight's opponents at Maracanã, at 18:10 p.m. Alejandro Dupont is a Vasco fan from Rosário, the birthplace of Maxi, a promising rival idol. Much to his chagrin, Ariel, 10, proudly wears the jersey of the Gávea team. Jorge Sápia has been a Flamengo fan since he became a Carioca 30 years ago. Gabriel, 25, doesn't take after his father: he prefers Conca and Dudar, brothers from São Januário.

"They used magic to make my son become Vasco. He was co-opted by his neighbors and friends," laments Jorgito.

"I promised gifts, intimidated him, and even used psychology, but nothing. His uncles pressured him. And he became a Flamengo fan," Alejandro vents.

Argentine idols are forgotten by clubs

Both celebrate the growing Argentine participation in Brazilian football. In a national championship that features 23 foreign players, their compatriots make up the majority, with seven playing for different teams in the country. In Rio, there are four, two for each team: Darío Conca and Emiliano Dudar for Vasco; Hugo Colace and Maxi Biancucchi for Flamengo.

"Maxi is a traitor. He's from Rosario, like me, and he should be at Vasco," says Alejandro Dupont, a 39-year-old massage therapist who arrived in Rio in 1988 and became a Vasco fan after getting married, out of pure spite. "My brothers-in-law are Flamengo fans, and I'm the opposition."

Jorgito, 53, a sociology professor and founder of the Carnival group "Meu bem, volto já" (My Good, I'll Be Back Now), is a classic Flamengo fan. He supports Flamengo because of Horácio Narciso Doval and the similarity to the jersey of San Lorenzo, his hometown team. The first time he was in Rio, in 1972, he saw the Argentine win the Rio de Janeiro championship with Flamengo. Returning to Brazil permanently in 1976, seeking refuge from the dictatorship that had begun that year, he was impressed by Doval's skill at Posto 9—and on the nights of Ipanema...

"He ruled the sand. I loved watching him play in the net in front of Vinícius de Moraes Street," Jorgito recalls. "He was a bit crazy, he had everything to do with Rio at that time."

In 1976, Doval was playing for Fluminense and scored a header that won the Rio de Janeiro title. Against whom? Vasco.

- An Argentine shouldn't score goals against Vasco - reproaches Dupont, still fascinated by the biography of goalkeeper Andrada, also from Rosario and who made history for having conceded Pelé's thousandth goal.

The recognition given to Andrada and Doval by fans is not the same as that given by club management. On the official websites (www.vasco.com.br and www.flamengo.com.br), the goalkeeper and the forward are not even mentioned in the idol galleries.

"Argentines have always gotten along well in the city. Rivalry only on the field," declared Jorgito, introduced to the world of samba and bossa nova by Toquinho, Chico Buarque, and Carlinhos Vergueiro, teammates from the late 70s.

"A lot has changed. The beach is brighter, but it used to be more peaceful. And the artistic football is over. Even with all the Argentinians," jokes Jorgito, with the irreverence of a Carioca and a Buenos Aires accent.

The Ipanema frenzy has truly become history. Today, the well-behaved Conca and Dudar live there. The latter just had a son, Santino, and is rooting for his heir to stay away from the Flamengo fan club.

Classic of opposite paths

Today, Flamengo and Vasco are on opposite sides of the table. While the São Januário team is trying to secure a top-four spot, a position that guarantees a spot in the Copa Libertadores, Flamengo is trying to move away from the relegation zone.

While Maxi's starting lineup was ruled out for the red-and-black team and midfielder Hugo Colace is confirmed on the bench, at Vasco, the Argentines are guaranteed a spot. Coach Celso Roth will start with Dudar in place of suspended defender Vílson. Conca starts in midfield. Roberto Lopes replaces Amaral.

At Flamengo, who is repeating the team that beat Cruzeiro, Joel Santana says Vasco is in a better position. But he suggests caution in his predictions.

"Vasco is more complete, more rested, and their position is better than ours. But in a derby, don't risk guessing because you might burn your tongue."

Referee: Marcelo de Lima Henrique (RJ).

BROADCAST: Premiere and Rádios Globo and CBN

Renato Mauricio Prado

Fire test

Flamengo will once again field its "zero creativity" midfield (Rômulo, Jaílton, Cristian, and Toró), which proved successful against Cruzeiro. It's a good opportunity to see if Joel Santana's invention actually works, or if the "chastity belt" system was saved midweek by an exceptional individual performance from right-back Leonardo Moura.

It's true that, despite the four brutes in midfield, the red-black team was offensive and played well.

But Celso Roth's Vasco has been playing more efficiently in this Brazilian Championship, and therefore steps onto the Maracanã pitch this afternoon as a slight favorite.

In this year's clashes, Fla had the advantage in the GB Cup final (winning on penalties) and lost in the Rio Cup.

That's why fans often say that if it's a final, Fla wins; if not, Vasco wins. Today, the game is important for both teams (for opposite reasons), but it's not a final...

Sports Journal

Vasco brings back good memories for Juan

Wallace Teixeira

Juan is Flamengo's top scorer in the Brazilian Championship with five goals

Flamengo's top scorer so far in this Brazilian Championship, with five goals, left-back Juan will face an opponent tonight who brings back fond memories. Vasco was the team where he scored the goal that clinched last year's Copa do Brasil title. More than a year after the feat, he still cherishes that special moment.

"It was a memorable day, not just for me, but for the group as well. I'll never forget that day, which was very special and significant in my career. But now it's very different. We need these three points to gain more confidence," said Juan.

Duel with Wagner Diniz\ To emerge victorious from today's match, the Flamengo full-back knows he'll face a high-quality opponent. On the other side will be Wagner Diniz, who has been one of Vasco's standout performers in recent matches.\

"He's a great player, and I'll have to be very careful with him. I'm rooting for him to win, but I prefer not to analyze the individual duel. Our characteristics are attacking, but we also have a lot of responsibility in marking," analyzed the full-back.

This positive momentum has already led him to believe this is the best year of his career. Besides becoming one of the team's key players, Juan has also discovered that he has a knack for scoring goals.

"Being a top scorer is nice, but soon Obina and Souza will surpass me. My job is to get them in a position to score. I'm maturing, getting better physically, and my good football is resurfacing," he assessed.

Mystery in the lineup for the Clássico dos Milhões

Perdigão and Fábio Luciano have not yet been confirmed. The decision will only be made minutes before the game.

Thiago Bokel and Pedro Veríssimo

Perdigão (photo) and Fábio Luciano are dependent on medical clearance to play.

In the duel between two veterans of Brazilian football, Celso Roth and Joel Santana, the lineups for today's derby between Flamengo and Vasco da Gama, at 18:10 PM, at Maracanã, are a mystery. While the former is still awaiting confirmation from midfielder Perdigão, who sprained his right ankle against Grêmio, the latter is awaiting clearance from the medical department for Fábio Luciano.

Every effort is being made to ensure the teams play at full strength, as a victory is essential for Flamengo to enter the South American qualifying zone and for Vasco to return to the top four.

The Flamengo captain felt a twinge in his left thigh during the victory over Cruzeiro and was considered doubtful. However, in yesterday's training session at Gávea, the defender trained normally among the starters and was virtually guaranteed a place.

If the unlikely happens and Fábio Luciano is unable to play, Joel is expected to choose defender Thiago Sales as his replacement. However, the coach wanted to leave a question mark and preferred not to reveal his preference.

"What do you want to know about that? Tell me Vasco's lineup. I bet Roth didn't make it through either. I'd rather not say what my choice is between Thiago Sales and Rodrigo Arroz," he said evasively.

Roth has not yet confirmed the means

And Joel is right. Besides waiting for Perdigão until moments before the game, the Vasco coach has yet to decide between Roberto Lopes and Xavier to replace Amaral, who received his third yellow card in the loss to São Paulo. He's likely to field the former. If Perdigão is unable to play, Andrade will take his place.

Celso Roth will also be without defender Vílson, one of the team's revelations in the Brazilian Championship, who is suspended. In his place, the coach will field Dudar, who recently recovered from a knee injury.

In this hide-and-seek atmosphere, today's derby at the Maracanã could be decided by a surprise. With the experience of longtime soccer players, both coaches know that small details can make all the difference in the end.

Fábio Luciano could reinforce Fla against Vasco

A doubt for this Sunday's derby against Vasco, defender Fábio Luciano showed he was fit and played in Flamengo's training session this Saturday. Joel Santana, Flamengo's coach, preferred to err on the side of caution when fielding him.

"I'll wait until tomorrow (Sunday) to decide. Fábio is an experienced player and will know whether he's fit to play. The important thing is that with or without him, we'll be well served in that department," the coach commented.

Last Wednesday, during the 3-1 victory over Cruzeiro, the Flamengo defender felt muscle pain in his left thigh and, since then, is doubtful for the next match.

Marcos de Castro

Bath-in-Cuia

Whenever

Marcos de Castro castro@jsports.com.br

A player must want to play every time he's on the field. If he's on the field and doesn't want to play, there are two possibilities: first, he's having relationship problems with the coach or his teammates; second, he has problems in his head. As far as we know, Flamengo's Roger has no problems with Joel or his teammates. Therefore—as the most basic Aristotelian logic teaches us—his head is the problem.

Compare Flamengo's games against Inter in Porto Alegre and against Cruzeiro last Wednesday at the Maracanã. Against Inter, when Flamengo was overwhelmed by the Rio Grande do Sul team and lost 3-0, Roger was on the field in the first half. He was, but he wasn't, according to the newspapers. In fact, he walked around the field, or, worse still, dragged himself around, as they say of someone who is oblivious to the game. He was substituted for being a nonentity in the 45 minutes he played (?).

It took no more than three days for a radical transformation in the team's spirit. Flamengo was fielded without Roger for the match against Cruzeiro at Maracanã. Second in the league, Cruzeiro is theoretically a better team than Inter at the moment. But this time, Flamengo was the one who gave the ball away. Suffice it to say that one of the most dangerous situations in football is a team sinking when, winning 2-0, they concede a goal. Flamengo conceded a goal in this situation and, instead of sinking, fought back and crushed Cruzeiro, scoring the third goal with a masterful counterattack, passing the ball back and forth.

Flamengo's Vice President of Football, Mr. Kleber Leite, says that Roger commutes from home to work, doesn't drink, doesn't have an extravagant lifestyle, trains regularly—meaning, besides being a soccer player, he's a perfect athlete. Now, no one has ever said, or even assumed, that Roger drinks, or at least that he does so immoderately (because an occasional glass of beer doesn't hurt any athlete). Nothing about Roger suggests he's a heavy drinker; no one has ever even considered such a supposition, as the Flamengo official mentioned. Roger's problem, though technically brilliant, is that he plays whenever he wants, is a highly unprofessional attitude.

O Dia

Flamengo vs Vasco: Worth more than the title

Fla and Vasco hold another chapter of their separate championship at Maracanã

Ana Carla Gomes and Martha Esteves

Rio - At Gávea or São Januário, the same lesson is learned early on: a victory over a perennial rival is as important as a title. Even in the youth divisions, Flamengo's Renato Augusto, Rômulo, and Thiago Salles, and Vasco's Vílson and Allan Kardec, understood the importance of competing in Rio's greatest rivalry. Even Argentinians Maxi Biancucchi and Hugo Colace, recently at Gávea, and Darío Conca and Emiliano Dudar, already settled in at Colina, know that the 18:10 PM game at Maracanã is just as important for Flamengo as it is for Vasco.

Rubro-Negro, currently in 14th place, could climb the table and gain momentum to pursue greater heights. With a victory, the Cruzmaltino team will solidify its position as the best in Rio and a likely spot in the Copa Libertadores.

This time, coach Joel Santana won't resort to his old trick of keeping things secret. The only question mark is defender Fábio Luciano, who participated in training yesterday and will be tested. If he doesn't play, Thiago Salles or Rodrigo Arroz will compete for the spot. In Flamengo's attack, Obina will play alongside Renato Augusto, as Souza is suspended.

The midfield is the same as the one that started in the 3-1 victory over Cruzeiro: Rômulo, Cristian, Jaílton, and Toró. "I've worked for both clubs and know how important a win is for each. Vasco has the advantage over us in the Championship, but in a derby, anything can happen. I hope to have better luck and win," says Joel Santana.

Obina, who was injured in the Guanabara Cup semifinals after scoring against Vasco, hopes for better luck. "A victory would be very welcome. Especially with a little goal from me," he emphasizes.

At Vasco, coach Celso Roth, who has also played for the red-and-black team, expects a tough match, despite the two teams' differing performances in the Brazilian Championship. Against their archrivals, the São Januário club is looking to get back to winning ways in the Brasileirão, having drawn one and lost two in the league.

"The fans can't help but engage. The two teams' current form in the championship will result in a very intense and intense match. We expect a tough match, with the team with the best chances prevailing. But of course, Vasco is expected to be the more balanced team," Roth opined.

Midfielder Perdigão, recovered from a right ankle injury, returns to the team. Roberto Lopes and Argentine Dudar replace Amaral and Vílson, who are suspended, respectively.

Far from his daughter, Leonardo Moura went through difficult times and was even booed

Janir Junior

Rio - The daily pressure at Flamengo left Leonardo Moura psychologically shaken. Missing his daughter, Maria Eduarda, who left Rio to live in the interior of Santa Catarina with her mother, Juliana, a volleyball player and the full-back's ex-wife, shook Léo's heart. The effects were felt in his legs. The player's performance dropped, he made silly mistakes, and was booed by the fans.

After a stellar performance in the victory against Cruzeiro, he knows that today, against Vasco, it's time to seal the comeback. "It's going to be a team looking to outdo each other. We need this win more than ever. I have character and I won't stop creating chances and shooting on goal," guarantees Leonardo Moura.

Regarding his personal life, he doesn't elaborate much on his love life and his relationship with funk singer Perla. "I'm fine, calm," he says evasively.

Regarding Maria Eduarda, his 1-year-and-3-month-old daughter, Léo Moura opens his heart. "I was so sad when she moved away. I never imagined this would happen. I went a month without seeing Duda. Sometimes the fans boo without knowing about our problems. Everything I do is for my daughter," he emphasizes.

Duda was born on the eve of last year's Copa do Brasil title. Léo Moura always wears a shirt with his daughter's picture, whose name is engraved on her cleats, to games.

After a series of lackluster performances, Leonardo made a serious mistake in the defeat to Internacional when he carelessly took a free kick. The move led to the opponent's goal. "It was a costly mistake, but I learned from it," the player asserts.

The full-back knows all too well the pressure of playing for Flamengo. "In 2005, some people even put more pressure on me," the full-back recalls.

He understands what the club represents: "Flamengo is too big to constantly be fighting relegation. We take a step forward and then we go back. It's exhausting."

Raised in Vila Kennedy, in the West Zone, Léo Moura saw some friends turn to drug trafficking. With his family's guidance, he embarked on a path to soccer. Today, he enjoys the comforts of Barra. But, unlike the clear waters of the condominium's pool, Flamengo's current form is anything but rosy.

Sports Gazette

Flamengo and Vasco put their rivalry to the test at Maracanã

Gazeta Press

Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - Despite being part of the 26th round of the Brazilian Championship, the match between Flamengo and Vasco, scheduled for this Sunday at 18:10 pm (Brasília time) at the Maracanã, will be the first meeting between the two teams in this year's competition. Due to the Pan American Games, the first-round match was postponed to October 18th, sparking outrage among Vasco fans, who wanted to play at São Januário in the first half of the year. This only intensified the historic rivalry between the Flamengo and Vasco fans. This Sunday, the match remains highly important, as it has always been throughout the century-long history of the two teams. However, the clubs' objectives in the fight for victory are quite different. With 39 points, Vasco wants to return to the Copa Libertadores qualifying zone. Flamengo, on the other hand, with seven points less, plans to escape the relegation zone.

Flamengo coach Joel Santana has participated in the derby several times, representing both sides, and knows that leaving the field victorious is very difficult. For him, it's not enough to simply have good technical and tactical performance on the pitch; he must also display extraordinary grit.

"A derby between Flamengo and Vasco isn't won solely with tactics and technique. These are also important, but you need to put your heart and soul into the game, believe in missed chances, and always go for the ball. Calmness and composure are essential. You need to be cool when making decisions," analyzed Joel Santana.

The thinking on the other side of the field is the same. Coach Celso Roth is participating in the derby for Vasco for the first time in history and has already realized that the reality of this matchup is quite different from the others. In 2005, coaching Flamengo, he beat his rival 1-0.

"I realized that, here at Vasco da Gama, this game is completely different from the others, and president Eurico Miranda showed me that. This is a separate title being fought for, and it's like a big decision," said Roth.

The players also make no secret of the fact that their motivation for a match like this varies greatly. "Even if it were just a fixture, the interest would be high. I've played on both sides and I know it's always great to leave the field with three points," said right-back Léo Moura.

Vasco striker Leandro Amaral shares a similar view. For him, beating Flamengo is important to revive the team. "We lost to São Paulo in a game where we deserved better luck. It was a result we didn't expect. Therefore, beating Flamengo is crucial, as we need to get back on track in the competition and boost our morale," Leandro analyzed.

Both teams face challenges ahead of this derby. Joel Santana is the most affected, as he will be without defender Fábio Luciano, sidelined with left thigh pain; midfielders Ibson, with right ankle pain; and Roger, who is still recovering from injury; and forwards Maxi, with a left thigh strain, and Souza, suspended for receiving his third yellow card.

Celso Roth will be without defender Vilson and midfielder Amaral, who are suspended for receiving their third yellow card against São Paulo. This means Argentine Emiliano Dudar returns to the defense and Perdigão will be in midfield. Seeking to strengthen the defense, the coach also opted for Roberto Lopes to replace Andrade.

Renato Augusto gives a scare, but will be in the classic

Gazeta Press

Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - As if Flamengo's lineup issues weren't enough, coach Joel Santana got a scare in the final training session before Sunday's derby against Vasco at the Maracanã. Midfielder Renato Augusto cut his lip during Saturday morning's training session at Gávea and had to leave the training session bleeding heavily. However, the athlete is confirmed for the match. "Renato Augusto needed two stitches in his mouth, but it won't be a problem and he's available for Joel Santana for the game. He's not even having any issues giving an interview," downplayed doctor José Luís Runco.

Renato Augusto, who was heckled by some fans during training due to his poor performance in recent games, will form an attacking duo with Obina, as Souza is suspended due to his third yellow card.

However, Flamengo's series of problems doesn't stop there. Three players are certain to be absent from the clash with Vasco: midfielders Ibson, with right ankle pain, and Roger, who is sidelined to regain fitness, and forward Maxi, with a left thigh strain. Furthermore, defender Fábio Luciano, with left thigh pain, will undergo a test in the locker room to determine his fitness. If ruled out, he will be replaced by Thiago Sales or Rodrigo Arroz.

With this uncertainty, Flamengo will take the field this Sunday with: Bruno, Leonardo Moura, Fábio Luciano (Thiago Sales or Rodrigo Arroz), Ronaldo Angelim and Juan; Rômulo, Jaílton, Cristian and Toró; Renato Augusto and Obina. After training this Saturday, the concentration period for the match began.

PeléNet

Fla and Vasco play for goals in the Brazilian Championship and 'a separate championship'

From the Editorial Team\ In Rio de Janeiro\

For the first time in this Brazilian Championship, Flamengo and Vasco face off this Sunday at 18:10 p.m. at the Maracanã Stadium. Besides the three points needed to achieve their respective—and conflicting—objectives in this Série A, the archrivals are seeking a victory to clinch the "title" of the "separate championship" that is included in each derby.

In fact, the "cup" at stake this Sunday will have a special value for the winner. Besides earning three points and making their fans laugh at the loser's, the winning team will significantly hinder their rival's objectives.

In this sense, Flamengo's situation is more delicate. The team sits in 14th place with 32 points, just three points clear of the relegation zone. Therefore, if they lose the derby, they could fall back into the group of the bottom four teams that will be relegated to the second division.

"It's a very fierce rivalry. It requires different preparation. Today, we need to win even more. Vasco is calm and we're not in a comfortable position. We don't want to cry on Monday because we're back in the relegation zone," commented coach Joel Santana.

Vasco is in fifth place, with 39 points, just one point away from qualifying for the 2008 Copa Libertadores. Therefore, a victory over arch-rivals Flamengo could put the Cruzmaltino team back in the group of the top four teams that will compete in the main South American interclub competition next year.

"We, who are trained in Vasco's youth academy, know that this game is considered a title fight within the club. It's a match of great importance because it's against our biggest rival and could represent our return to the Copa Libertadores qualifying zone," observed young left-back Guilherme, an option to replace the experienced Rubens Júnior.

Renato Augusto convinces Joel to change his position at Fla

From the Editorial Team\ In Rio de Janeiro\

Since he began being deployed as a makeshift attacking midfielder—this year, under former coach Ney Franco—midfielder Renato Augusto has faced criticism that he doesn't play the same style up front. In light of this, the player managed to convince coach Joel Santana to slightly change his positioning on the field.

In this Sunday's classic against Vasco, at Maracanã, for the Brazilian Championship, Renato Augusto will continue to improvise in attack, as the team will not have Roger, away to recover his physical form, and Souza, suspended.

However, according to the red-and-black revelation, there will be a small change in his positioning for this game. This also required changing midfielder Toró's positioning on the field.

"He [Joel] always gives me total freedom. I told him that I prefer to come a little further back or wide, because I have to come with the ball under control facing the goal, and not with my back to it. He quickly asked me to open up a little more and spoke to Toró," said Renato Augusto.

Joel Santana's endorsement seems to have encouraged the midfielder considerably. So much so that he promised to start taking more long-range shots again starting with the derby against Vasco.

"I was lucky the times I risked long-range shots, like in the classic against Botafogo [in the second game of the State Championship finals]. So, it doesn't hurt to risk it again," said Renato Augusto.

BalloonSport

Fábio Luciano shows he can play

The red-black defender and sheriff no longer feels pain in his thigh and motivates the team more.

O Globo\ Fábio Luciano won over the crowd\

Defender Fábio Luciano took part in the training session held this Saturday, in Gávea, and with that increased his chances of playing for Flamengo this Sunday, against Vasco, in Maracanã, in the 26th round of the Brazilian Championship.

Fábio felt muscle pain in his left thigh during the 3-1 victory over Cruzeiro last Wednesday. Even though he knows the player is much better, coach Joel Santana is cautious.

"I'll wait until tomorrow (Sunday) to decide. Fábio is an experienced player and will know whether he's fit to play. The important thing is that with or without him, we'll be well served in that department," he explained in an interview with the club's official website.

If Fábio Luciano is ruled out, the coach could choose between Thiago Sales and Rodrigo Arroz to form the defense with Ronaldo Angelim.

Throw

Anti-confusion measures for the Rio derby

Police ban glass bottles and control ticket sales by gangs

Thiago Asmar

The classics between Flamengo and Vasco, usually special on the field, are often marred by fights between factions of the fans of both clubs.

Concerned about this, Lieutenant Colonel Roberto Alves de Lima of the 6th Military Police Battalion (Tijuca) decided to adopt new measures to combat violence in the Maracanã stadium area this Sunday. And the changes will be permanent.

Fans have already noticed a change. In recent games at Maracanã, the Military Police banned street vendors from the sidewalks in front of the stadium's two main entrances—the Bellini ramp and the UERJ ramp—to prevent crowds from gathering outside. Starting with the derby, there will be another change with the same goal: fan faction leaders will only be allowed to distribute tickets to their teammates up to half an hour before the game.

– My goal with these measures is to avoid crowds outside the stadium.

It's better for fans to enter Maracanã as soon as they arrive – explained Roberto.

The Military Police also prohibited bar owners near Maracanã from selling drinks in glass bottles starting four hours before the show. According to the lieutenant colonel, these types of bottles could become weapons in the hands of criminals.

There will be 300 men from the 6th PM Battalion outside Maracanã and policing will be reinforced in the most critical areas.

– Generally, clashes between the Vasco and Flamengo factions take place at the São Cristóvão train station or on Avenida 28 de Setembro, towards Vila Isabel.

We will pay special attention to these locations – added Roberto.

Flamengo and Vasco play a classic at Maracanã

The match could be a turning point for both teams in the Brasileirão.

Obina and Leandro Amaral are Flamengo and Vasco's goal hopes, respectively (Credit: Archive)

Rodrigo Mandarini and Rodrigo Mendes

Flamengo and Vasco face off in a classic that alone captures everyone's attention. Rio's two biggest fan bases eagerly await the clashes between the state's main rivals. This Sunday's Clássico dos Milhões, at 18:10 PM, at Maracanã, will be no different. The match will be a watershed moment for both teams: the loser will move away from their goal in the Brazilian Championship.

With 32 points, Flamengo sits in 14th place, just three points above the relegation zone. However, the red-and-blacks are hopeful for a promotion that could even lead them to a place in the distant Copa Libertadores.

"Winning a derby is incredibly important. We're aiming for a spot in the Copa Libertadores or the Copa Sudamericana, and we want a win to climb even higher in the standings," said right-back Léo Moura.

More measured, coach Joel Santana denies he's thinking about qualifying for the Libertadores. For the red-and-black manager, it's still too early for the team to think about anything other than beating their biggest rival to avoid the suffocation.

"Let's dream small. No excitement, no fuss. We haven't even gotten out of trouble yet. We have the derby and Juventude. Then we'll know where we can go," Joel said evasively.

The coach's caution is warranted. For the match against Vasco, the team will have significant absences: Roger and Maxi are in training, Ibson still feels pain in his right ankle, and Souza is suspended. Fabio Luciano is still uncertain for the match.

Vasco, in fifth place with 39 points, needs a win and hopes for Palmeiras to stumble against Atlético Paranaense to return to the Libertadores qualifying zone.

Coach Celso Roth will be without defender Vilson and midfielder Amaral, both suspended with three yellow cards. Dudar and Roberto Lopes, respectively, are expected to take their places. Midfielder Perdigão is doubtful for the match. He is recovering from a right ankle injury. If he is unable to face Flamengo, Andrade will take his place.

Roth will also have defender Jorge Luiz back, who served a suspension in the last round, when Vasco lost 2-0 to São Paulo. This means forward Alan Kardec will be out of the squad, with the team's formation shifting from a 3-5-2 to a 3-6-1, with Leandro Amaral playing alone up front.

Although Flamengo is well below in the standings, Leandro Amaral assures that the motivation in the derby isn't to worsen their rival's situation. According to the player, the team, winless in three matches, needs to be careful not to fall out of contention for a Libertadores spot.

"The time has come to win again. We have to prepare hard to beat them, get back into the Libertadores qualifying zone, and, consequently, continue in the fight for the Brazilian title," he said.

Joel vents and demands a place on the Walk of Fame

Coach says he has been champion many times and deserves more affection

(Credit: Ricardo Cassiano)

Rodrigo Campos and Rodrigo Mandarini

Coach Joel Santana has won titles in charge of four Rio de Janeiro teams. Furthermore, in 2005, he saved Flamengo from a seemingly inevitable relegation. Despite his services to the four Rio de Janeiro teams, Joel doesn't feel his worth is recognized.

"I'm the only coach in the world to have won titles with all four Rio teams. I don't need to say anything else; it's all written in history. I have 14 titles under my belt, no small feat. The problem is that I don't promote it," Joel said, showing resentment at the lack of affection he still feels.

With six titles won at Maracanã, Joel Santana still doesn't understand why his name isn't engraved on the stadium's walk of fame.

"I'm going to demand my name there. So many people have already put theirs in, why can't I put mine in? I think I've already done enough to have my name engraved in the history of Maracanã. Who knows, maybe they'll remember me? I just want my name on a little piece, a little corner will do. Maracanã is very big, and I think I deserve a tribute like this," Joel said.

One of the things that most annoys Joel Santana is when people say he's defensive. The coach thinks this is unfair.

"I don't go around promoting, advertising, and saying I play forward. In football, there's a lot of nonsense being sold. There are coaches who have never won a title or only won once and then go around saying they play forward. What they need to learn is that you don't win anything with words, but with work. I didn't play for so many big teams and teams abroad for nothing," Joel boasted.

Obina remembers his last Flamengo x Vasco

Striker scored after one minute and was injured in GB Cup semi-final

Obina will start against Vasco (Credit: Paulo Sérgio)

Hugo Perruso

The Flamengo-Vasco derby brings back both good and bad memories for Obina. The Flamengo striker went from heaven to hell in the last derby he played in, the Guanabara Cup semifinal.

In the first minute of the game, Obina scored a goal, but ended up injuring his left knee, which kept him out of action for almost five months. The striker recalled the incident and gave his thoughts on the moment he was injured:

"Within a minute, I scored and got injured. It was a moment of happiness and sadness at the same time. To this day, I don't really know what happened. I think I hurt myself before I shot, but they say it was afterward," the striker said.

In that game, Flamengo and Vasco drew 1-1 and Rubro-Negro advanced to the final after winning the penalty shootout.

Fla and Vasco players want to appear on the scoreboard

When an athlete scores a goal, a new electronic scoreboard highlights it

Bruno Braz and Genilson Junior

Scoring a goal at Maracanã these days brings a greater sense of satisfaction than simply finding the net at the "Biggest in the World": the scorer has his or her photo digitally printed on the stadium's new scoreboard, inaugurated for the Pan American Games. With LANCE!'s photo selection, Flamengo players chose the ones they wanted to see on the screen. At Vasco, anticipation is high for the never-before-seen image of Leandro Amaral, which, if it appears, will mean the end of their three-game goalless streak.

The buzz surrounding the scoreboard comes from Felipe Goulart, the attraction's main operator. He's responsible for generating the images that capture the emotion of a simple kiss between a loving couple and the fans' tears over a single glimpse. He has one caveat:

"We only think about peace. In classic matches, we're careful to split the screen image in two, with scenes from both teams. The idea of ​​the heart superimposed on the image is to show that football isn't just for men, but that there are also couples, children, and the elderly in the stadium."

Rivalries aside, the Maracanã's new electronic scoreboard adds a special touch to the already charming Flamengo and Vasco. And the players, who were once observed only through the clinical eyes of the thousands of "coaches" scattered throughout the stands, now receive analysis that goes beyond the field of play. Despite the fact that, at times, the quality is somewhat questionable and personal...

"Obina looks amazing in the photo on the big screen!" declares Marcela Molon, 18, a student, passionate Flamengo fan, and the Black Angel of Gávea's number one fan.

The Suderj engineering team, comprised entirely of Flamengo fans, currently has in its archives special photos of players from Rio de Janeiro's four major clubs. The privileged ones include Ibson, Leonardo, Souza, and Obina of Flamengo; Leandro Amaral, Conca, and Alan Kardec of Vasco; Somália and Thiago Neves of Fluminense; Dodô, Adriano Felício, Jorge Henrique, Juninho, Luciano Almeida, and Lucio Flavio of Botafogo.

Police concerned about feuds within the same fan base

Thiago Asmar

Typically, on derby days, police focus their attention on clashes between rival club fan factions. But for this Sunday's derby between Flamengo and Vasco, Major Marcelo Pessoa, commander of the Special Stadium Policing Group (Gepe), will also have to worry about potential clashes between groups of the same fan groups. According to him, there are feuds between two Vasco and two Flamengo fan groups.

– Inside Maracanã, the biggest concern will be potential clashes between factions within the same fan base. But I don't think that will happen. I met with leaders from all factions of both Flamengo and Vasco, and they promised not to fight.

I believe they learned from the punishment applied in some games, when they were not allowed to use banners and flags – said the major, who guaranteed that there will be a line of police separating the rival factions.

Joel asks fans to be careful

Maracanãzinho will host an event at the same time as the classic\ LANCEPRESS!\

At the same time as the Flamengo-Vasco game at Maracanã, Disney on Ice, a children's ice-skating show, will be held next door at Maracanãzinho. Flamengo coach Joel Santana expressed concern about the event's timing coinciding with the classic.

The coach even made an appeal for fans and the public at the event to be careful.

"There will be an event with a lot of children during the game. It's not what we want, but a riot could break out and everyone could be affected. But everything will be fine," the coach said, both worried and hopeful.

Partnerships: a good or a bad thing for clubs?

Managers and experts analyze the main partnerships between clubs and companies

Leandro Dias and Rodrigo Campos

Brazilian football clubs are increasingly seeking alternatives to increase revenue or reduce losses. Gone are the days when institutions profited solely from stadium revenue, fan club projects, player sales, or television broadcasts. Partnering with a large company has been touted as the financial solution for many of these clubs. However, not all experiences have been satisfactory.

Palmeiras is an exception. In the early 90s, it launched this new source of revenue and reaped positive results on the field. Verdão won important titles alongside Parmalat, including three state championships, two Brazilian championships in 1993 and 1994, and the 1999 Libertadores Cup, among others. In an interview with Rádio LANCE!, Serafim Del Grande, the club's vice president at the time, recalls some details about the merger.

"It was a period of great joy for Palmeiras and Parmalat. It was the only partnership that truly worked in Brazilian football. Parmalat's main objective was to establish the brand's image. They weren't just focused on financial profit, while Palmeiras was focused on winning titles. And that's what happened. I disagreed with the statutory reform that President Mustafá implemented starting in 1997, and Parmalat also realized this and ended up leaving in 2001," explained Del Grande.

Another club that also partnered with a major company to achieve results on and off the field was Fluminense. With Unimed's support, the club won three titles, including the Copa do Brasil, its most important triumph, giving the Tricolor das Laranjeiras a coveted Libertadores berth. For Fluminense president Roberto Horcades, the secret to the partnership's success is the close relationship between partner and club:

"Any partnership only works when it's beneficial for both parties. Often, due to poor management or a bad relationship, these partnerships end up falling apart. We've been with Unimed for nine years now, and we have no regrets. It's a partnership that has strengthened year after year. The victory is for both parties. The success of this partnership lies in the humility of each partner and the club. We need to understand that one cannot be greater than the other. They must work together, in harmony," the director emphasized.

On the other hand, there are murky partnerships that have sparked distrust among fans and even executives, such as the MSI with Corinthians and the ISL with Flamengo. Diário LANCE! columnist Benjamim Back comments on this partnership model and his impressions of club-company mergers:

"Corinthians and MSI were never actually a partnership. What happened was a lease. On the day of the "partnership" vote, how can you determine the future of a club like Corinthians when the president doesn't present any documents, paperwork, or anything? They sold the idea that Corinthians would be the strongest team in Brazil, the number one team, the national team, and said the following: "Those in favor of us signing the partnership, stay seated. Those against, stand up." That's how the deal began. Let it be clear that I fully support partnerships, as I believe this is the solution, but Brazilian football is not ready for a partnership. The mentality of club leaders is to take the money from the guys (company owners) and then dump them, and that's it," LANCE! columnist Benjamim Back quipped.

Flamengo also lived up to expectations of becoming an unbeatable club. The partnership with the ISL group was a surefire way to bring joy, but that wasn't the case. Roberto Assaf, a columnist for LANCE!, believes the club's directors were overwhelmed by the amount of money they had on hand—more than R$150 million at the time—to sign reinforcements.

"I think the money was misused. A huge amount of money was spent, and people used it too quickly. They ended up signing players who had no desire or commitment to play for the club, just looking for a quick buck. When you have a large amount of money in your hands, you need to plan how to use it. When this happens randomly, the chances of it not working out are high. The most successful was Parmalat with Palmeiras. The others, even the smaller ones, were unsuccessful."