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THE GLOBE

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DEFENDER ÁLVARO, one of the team's leaders, controls the ball during a Flamengo training session: "Today, the title is a reality for us"
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\ Mauricio Fonseca
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\ How far can Flamengo go?
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ÁLVARO: We're in second place, and if we maintain our average from the last 15 games (10 wins, three draws, and two losses), we have a good chance of becoming champions. The problem is that we're still dependent on São Paulo slipping up. We have to keep doing our part. Keep our feet on the ground, because that's how we got here.
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The team will also play two matches at Maracanã, where Flamengo has won every match since you and Maldonado joined the team. Isn't that an advantage?
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ÁLVARO: Of course it is. But first we have to secure our place in the Copa Libertadores, which could happen this weekend against Goiás. When we consolidate our position in the top four, then we can think about the Brazilian title.
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\ When you arrived at Flamengo, did you imagine a season ending like this?
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ÁLVARO: To be honest, it was almost impossible to believe this would happen. In fact, no one could have imagined it. When I was hired, the immediate concern was to stem the team's decline, so that Flamengo wouldn't even run the risk of relegation. The team had lost three games in a row. Today, the title is a reality for us.
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Leadership is one of your hallmarks. Today, no one at Gávea regrets former captain Fábio Luciano's retirement, even though the current captain is Bruno. Have you always been like this?
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ÁLVARO: It's a natural gift, and over time, I've been incorporating what I've learned along the way. I'm 32 years old and I've been through a lot in football, working with people of all kinds and different nationalities. I've learned a lot in the nine years I've spent in European football. Plus, I enjoy working there, which makes things a lot easier.
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At 1,82'XNUMX", you're not a very tall defender. How do you manage to impose yourself in the box?
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ÁLVARO: I never intended to be recognized as a technical player. I'm a defensive defender, the kind who fights to the death to prevent the team from conceding a goal. I think the fans like those who give their all like that. As for height, you can compensate with a lot of concentration. In fact, in set pieces, concentration and positioning count more than height. You can be sure that there's always a way to compensate for this physical difference.
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\ Weren't you worried about leaving an organized club like Internacional\ for Flamengo, known for its administrative problems, where the month\ often has 90 days?
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ÁLVARO: I never had any fear. I liked the project that was presented to me and came in feeling confident. I was pleasantly surprised on my first day. Looking at the squad, I realized that Flamengo had the potential to go further in the Brazilian Championship. The group is qualified and has many options. They have a goalkeeper, a tactician, a creative player, a goalscorer. Everything came together very well.
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\ You were born in Rio, but you had never played football in Rio.
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ÁLVARO: I trained at Botafogo, but when I was 13 I went to try out for São Paulo and never returned. I played for Goiás, spent nine years in Europe, and when I returned, I went to Internacional. Everything happened naturally, like my arrival at Flamengo.
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You competed in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, played in Europe, and played for major Brazilian teams. What do you consider the most important moment of your career?
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ÁLVARO: I think it was when I was at Goiás. The season was excellent. I had left São Paulo, did well there, and ended up returning to Morumbi. Soon after, I was sold to Europe.
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\ After all, why did you leave Internacional?
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ÁLVARO: Football stuff. I was a regular starter until the Copa do Brasil final with Corinthians. I lost my place, didn't play, and ended up lacking motivation. It was to get back to playing with pleasure that I accepted the challenge of defending Flamengo.
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Since you and Maldonado joined the team, Flamengo has lost only once, to Barueri. What do you like most about coach Andrade?
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ÁLVARO: He was a great player, an idol at Flamengo, he knows the club, what is expected of Flamengo. He is very calm and inspires confidence. And he has one thing that is fundamental for a coach: he knows how to convey what he wants like few others. This is not so simple in football.
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\ Are Flamengo fans really different from the others?
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ÁLVARO: Funny. When I played against Flamengo at Maracanã, I could already tell that the energy coming from the stands was different; there was always a positive energy. But, to tell the truth, I didn't think it was all that special. Today, I've changed my mind. It's easy to see that Flamengo and Maracanã are indistinguishable. The team/fan relationship is truly special. The player feels confident, they feel supported. Flamengo's fans are like a 12th player.
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\ You've already lived in big cities in Brazil and experienced the European reality.\ Are you enjoying living in Rio de Janeiro?
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ÁLVARO: The opportunity only came up now, and I'm finding it extremely enjoyable to play and live in the city. I'm loving living in Barra. Of course, the team's good form has helped with the adaptation. When you're winning, you can go out and stroll around without any major problems. They only stop you to offer support, ask for an autograph, and take a picture.

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\ Mosaic at Maracanã

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\ 1) The mosaic board must be lifted with the colored side facing the lawn only after the team enters the field.
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2) Please do not raise the signs before the team enters, as this will spoil the surprise. The mascots and children always enter before the players, so only raise them when the team enters!
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\ 3) After the design is formed, the traditional songs will be sung, creating\ choreography throughout the Maracanã.
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4) It is vitally important that everyone keeps their plates in their proper places. Removing/moving any plate to another seat will compromise the mosaic. Therefore, if you move, leave the plate where you found it.
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\ 5) The white plates will form the mosaic phrase, so fans must pay close attention to them.

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Trio\ in tune with the strength of the red-black fans
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\ With Pet, Adriano and Álvaro on the field, Flamengo has not yet lost a point at the\ Maracanã
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\ TOP SCORER ADRIANO is one of the red-black hopes today
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In its last ten matches at Maracanã, Flamengo has collected 25 points out of a possible 30. They have won eight, drawn one, and lost only one. Today, the team, second in the Brazilian league, hosts a disinterested Goiás, the club with the worst record in the second half of the season. If they win, and a combination of results occurs, their spot in the 2010 Copa Libertadores will be assured, with two rounds to spare.
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But Flamengo can finish the round as leader. To do so, in addition to winning, they will have to root for Botafogo to defeat São Paulo at the Engenhão stadium.
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"We have to focus on our game, beating our opponents," says defender Álvaro, who has never left Maracanã defeated wearing the red-and-black shirt. He made his debut in the 3-0 victory over Santo André. The team then beat Sport (3-0), Coritiba (3-0), Fluminense (2-0), São Paulo (2-1), and Santos (1-0). In other words, with Álvaro, Flamengo only conceded one goal in front of its fans.
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\ Fans intend to create the biggest mosaic in the game
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Coach Andrade will be without Maldonado, who will be out for six months. Toró, who played well against Náutico, is retained. But Flamengo is counting on the trio of Álvaro, Petkovic, and Adriano to secure their 18th victory in the competition.
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The combination of these three plus the strength of the fans, who will set a new attendance record for the season - with 78.834 paying fans - has proven unbeatable this season. Today, the fans will create a special mosaic in the stadium, taking up all the stands.
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"The fans have been fundamental in this recovery. They have helped us a lot. We see the celebration in the stands and we want to give back on the field," said Adriano, the Brazilian league's top scorer with 19 goals, 13 of which were scored at the Maracanã.
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Flamengo: Bruno, Leonardo Moura, Álvaro, Ronaldo Angelim and Juan; Aírton, Toró,\ Willians and Petkovic; Ze Roberto and Adriano. Goiás: Harlei, Vítor, Rafael Tolói,\ Ernando and Julio César; Fernando, Leo Lima, Romerito (Rithelly) and Iarley; Fernandão and Felipe. Referee: Leandro Vuadem (RS).
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\ TRANSMISSION: PFC and Rádio Globo

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Column\ Renato Mauricio Prado

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A D-Day\ +
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\ It's today! After that, we still have two more rounds, but today, I repeat, is when the three Rio clubs will play their decisive cards in the final stretch of this championship. Flamengo plays on "two fronts": first, it supports Botafogo, against São Paulo, and then it faces Goiás, in a packed and decorated Maracanã - with the promise of a record-breaking mosaic of 92 pieces from the fans!
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\ If you win your game and there is at least a draw at Engenhão, the path\ to the sixth title for the red-black team will be open, depending only on your results -\ that is, victories against Corinthians and Grêmio, in the final matches.
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\ But if there is no such combination now, it will be difficult for Fla to prevent São Paulo's seventh title, since, later, Ricardo Gomes' team, full of morale,\ will face the declining Goiás and the relegated Sport.
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\ Raised to the status of greatest ally of its rival (and tormentor) from Rio de Janeiro in the last\ three state finals, Botafogo desperately needs victory today\ to continue the fight against relegation, on its own two feet.
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\ Not even a draw will do for Glorioso because, in this case, if Fluminense wins, it will put them in the death zone, from where they can only escape if others stumble.
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\ But, after all, which Botafogo will step onto the Engenhão pitch this afternoon?
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\ The one that had three consecutive victories, including against Internacional,\ at Beira-Rio?\ That one, yes, is capable of defeating São Paulo, which hasn't even been playing that well and\ is full of absences.
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\ On the other hand, the black and white team that watched, as if anesthetized, Barueri's stroll in the last round, doesn't seem to have the strength to win against even Bambala, Rosita Sofia or Íbis.
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\ Which Botafogo will play later???

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There is still time to copy and reproduce, in the locker room, this "Message from the fans to the players. A simple demonstration of what the next three games mean for the red-black nation!", as described by the author himself. The link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPLGBeoZkiE. It's hair-raising.

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SPORTS JOURNAL

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Pet says that the support of the masses will be fundamental against Goiás

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Bruno Braga - bbraga@jsports.com.br

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Rio de Janeiro: Flamengo fans understood the team's great moment and will play alongside Andrade's team against Goiás this Sunday at 19:30 p.m. at the Maracanã. The red-and-black team broke the all-time record for paying attendance in all divisions of the Brazilian Championship. 78.638 bought tickets to watch the game against the Goiás team, the second-to-last at home - the last one will be against Grêmio.

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This weekend, Flamengo could overtake São Paulo, the Brazilian league leader with 62 points, whose score is two points higher than the Rio de Janeiro club. Therefore, the support of the mass of fans will help Flamengo even more. Sérvio Petckovic is aware of the strength that the fans give the team. For him, the encouragement this Sunday will be fundamental.

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"We will, more than ever, need the fans, who will be our 12th player. The support will be fundamental in the match against Goiás", said the Serbian.

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The peculiarity of numbers for cariocas

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Thiago Viana

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Rio de Janeiro:\ In this weekend's round of the Brazilian Championship, the Rio trio formed by Flamengo, Botafogo and Fluminense will take to the field once again.\ However, this Sunday, a mathematical peculiarity could have a huge impact on the trio.
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\ It is not customary for every team to fight for victory when they enter the field.\ However, three points have never been so important to the prospects\ of these teams. In fact, the number two is what is different about the\ teams.
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\ Explanation: Flamengo, who will face Goiás, is two points behind leaders São Paulo in the standings. São Paulo, in turn, will face Botafogo, two points ahead of Fluminense, the first team in the relegation zone.
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\ In other words, a simple victory could change everything with only two remaining after the end of the round of matches in the national season. So, fans, place your bets. And who knows, the results might end in your favor by a two-goal difference or be scored by your favorite club's right-back.

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THE DAY

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Mengão can take the lead today

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At a packed Maracanã, Rubro-Negro goes after Goiás. Earlier, the team cheered for Botafogo against São Paulo.

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BY THALES SOARES

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Rio - Despite the confidence of the red-black fans in winning the sixth title, it is impossible not to remember the clash with Goiás in the penultimate round of the 2008 Brazilian Championship, which took the title from Flamengo vacancy in the Libertadores. The team was winning 3-0, with a packed Maracanã, but allowed their rival to come back and the game ended in a 3-3 draw. Today, at 19:30 p.m., the game between the two teams, on the same stage, is even more important. Flamengo is in the fight for the title, two points behind leaders São Paulo, who face Botafogo, at 17 pm, at Engenhão.
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"Maintaining consistency is difficult, especially given the strength of our opponents. There are three games left, and it's natural for anxiety to increase, but we know how to deal with it well. This is a decisive moment not only for us, but also for the fans, who have been waiting for this joy for so long," commented right-back Leonardo Moura, who will have the support of more than 80 people at the Maracanã today.
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\ According to mathematician Tristão Garcia, Flamengo's chances of winning the title are 42% against São Paulo's 53%. The place in the Copa Libertadores is practically assured, but dream of the sixth remains alive. If he lifts the cup, Rubro-Negro will equal São Paulo as the greatest winner of the competition.
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Flamengo will enter the field already knowing the outcome of their rival in the fight for the title. A slip-up by São Paulo gives the Red-Blacks a chance to take the lead in the Brazilian Championship with two rounds remaining. They would then only need victories against Corinthians, in Campinas, and Grêmio, at Maracanã, to secure the title. Therefore, it's important to keep a level head.
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"Having this composure is important. Not the kind where the player doesn't feel excited about the game, but the composure to choose the play well, to see which teammate is better placed to finish. Physically, the team is fine. So, the emotional aspect is very important. The players are calm and that also affects me," said coach Andrade, an example of serenity on the sidelines, who trusts in the team's unity to avoid imbalances in the final stretch of the Brazilian Championship.

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Team asks for the fans' full support

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Rio\ - In 2008, Flamengo started the Brazilian Championship in the lead, but lost momentum halfway through the competition and didn't even win vacancy in the Copa Libertadores. This year, the team It took a while to enter the G-4, a feat that it only achieved in the last rounds, but now it is in the fight for the title with São Paulo.
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\"If we reach the top, it will be difficult to take it. Especially because we will play the\ last one at home game and with the support of our crowd. I hope we can get there. The red-blacks are being fundamental," said Zé Roberto, Adriano's attacking partner, the Brazilian's top scorer with 19 goals.
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\ A former Botafogo player, he knows that Flamengo depends on São Paulo slipping up against his former club. Zé Roberto trusts his former teammates.
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"I don't need to worry about talking to my old friends from my time at Botafogo, because they need the result. I hope and will root for them to do their part so we can have the chance to take the lead," commented Zé Roberto, referring to Botafogo's fight to avoid relegation in the Brazilian Championship.

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SPORTS GAZETTE

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Flamengo welcomes Goiás, dreaming of leadership

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\ Gazeta Press - Rio de Janeiro (RJ)

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Flamengo hosts Goiás this Sunday, at 19:30 pm (Brasília time), at Maracanã, with one thought fixed in its head: to take the lead in the Brazilian ChampionshipWith 60 points, two less than São Paulo, the Rio de Janeiro team will be in first place if they win their match and Tricolor stumbles against Botafogo, also in Rio de Janeiro.

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The numbers prove that Flamengo can dream of taking the lead. The team hasn't lost at Maracanã since the first round of the second half, when they lost 2-1 to Cruzeiro. Furthermore, Goiás no longer has any aspirations this season, as with 50 points, they are assured of a spot in the Copa Sudamericana and are no longer fighting for vacancy in the Copa Libertadores and is not at risk of relegation.\ In the first round, in Goiânia (GO), the representative of the Central West won 3-2.

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Flamengo coach Andrade asked his players to enter the field without feeling pressured by the need for a victory. For him, flamingo do not necessarily need to focus on leadership to win the title.

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"Flamengo has not yet mathematically guaranteed a place in the Copa Libertadores. If we lose to Goiás, our situation could become more complicated in this regard. Therefore, we should not feel any more pressure. Furthermore, the fight for the title is likely to drag on until the final round and nothing will be decided this weekend," said Andrade.

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Flamengo's players, however, don't hide their desire to finish the weekend at the top of the table. Right-back Leonardo Moura even publicly stated that he will support Botafogo.

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"I hope that Botafogo, who need a win, can hold off São Paulo, as they have the conditions to do so. However, we cannot forget to focus on our commitment, as Goiás is a very difficult team to beat," said Leonardo Moura.

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Midfielder Zé Roberto is another who understands that it would be strategically very positive for Flamengo to take the lead in the Brasileirão in this round.

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"We logically have to think first about beating Goiás. But taking the lead at this moment would be crucial, as there are two rounds left and we would put the pressure on São Paulo. I have great friends at Botafogo, I know their team needs the result to avoid relegation and I will be rooting for them. But remembering that we also need to do our part," said Zé Roberto.

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For this game, Flamengo will have the return of left-back Juan, who served a suspension in the 2-0 defeat to Nautical. With that, Ronaldo Angelim, who played improvised in the sector, returns to the defense, with David remaining as an option on the bench.\ Defensive midfielder Toró remains in the team, as Chilean Maldonado will be out of action for about six months due to a ligament injury in his left knee.

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For Goiás, coach Hélio dos Anjos believes his team has the ability to surprise Flamengo in Rio de Janeiro and return from the capital of Rio de Janeiro with the three points. He intends to see the Goiás team exploiting counterattacks.

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"Flamengo will be pushed by a huge crowd of fans and, as they are fighting for the title, they will need to take the initiative in the match. As they will have to attack, they could give Goiás space to counterattack and that is what we will have to exploit. Therefore, I want my team to play compactly and to attack quickly when they regain possession," said the coach.

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Goiás' only absence for this match is midfielder Romerito, suspended for receiving his third yellow card in the 3-1 victory over Santo André. As they aim to increase the team's speed, Iarley is likely to regain his position, forming a trio with Felipe and Fernandão.

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Chilean Federation rules out covering Maldonado's expenses

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\ Santiago, Chile)

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The Association of Football Chilean ignored the complaints of the Flamengo and ruled out, this Saturday, bearing the costs of\ treatment for the injury of midfielder Maldonado, who will no longer be able to play for the red-black team in the Brazilian Championship. The player was injured while on duty with the national team, during a friendly against Slovakia, last Tuesday.

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"There are rules for these situations, such as insurance. What Flamengo is requesting is not in the regulations. We will not enter into something that does not correspond to us," said Harold Mayne-Nicholls, president of the Chilean entity, in a statement to Radio Bio Bio.

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Thus, the Rio de Janeiro team will have to take the matter to its ultimate conclusion and contact FIFA, as it had said it would if necessary. "We will fight for our rights. The player was injured while playing for the national team, and they must pay his salary and treatment costs. If necessary, we will go to FIFA," said vice president of football Marcos Braz during the week.

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Maldonado is a starter and an important part of Flamengo's squad, which is fighting for the Brazilian Championship title. Flamengo did not want to release the player for the friendly, in which he ended up tearing the collateral ligament in his knee. He will undergo surgery by doctor José Luiz Runco this Sunday and the recovery forecast is six months.

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Flamengo 'hides' its plans for the match against Corinthians

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\ Gazeta Press - Rio de Janeiro (RJ)

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Flamengo faces this Sunday, at 19:30 pm (from Brasilia), Goiás at the Maracanã, in Rio de Janeiro (RJ), for the 36th round of the Brazilian Championship. Only after this match will the board of directors make a statement about the planning for the match on the following Sunday, against Corinthians, in Campinas (SP). This is because there is a possibility that the squad will spend the week in the interior of São Paulo, far from the capital of Rio de Janeiro.

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Expectations regarding this plan are high. The coaching staff believes it would be beneficial to distance the players from the euphoria that has been taking over Gávea and Ninho do Urubu due to the possibility of winning the Brazilian title, which Flamengo hasn't won since 1992. However, the players are not looking favorably on the possibility of leaving their families for about seven days.

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"Only after the game "It is against Goiás that we will position ourselves, because we will take stock of what happened in this round and already plan for the next one. The players' opinions will be taken into consideration, but the decision is not theirs," said Marcos Braz, Flamengo's vice president of football, in an interview with "Rádio Brasil" in Rio de Janeiro.

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The Flamengo squad\ performed a day recreational this Saturday and then began the period of concentration for the duel against the Goiás team. The team for this match has already been defined.

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Flamengo will have the return of left-back Juan, who served a suspension in the 2-0 defeat to Nautical. With that, Ronaldo Angelim, who played improvised in the sector, returns to the defense, with David remaining as an option on the bench.\ Defensive midfielder Toró remains in the team, in place of Chilean Maldonado, who will be\ around six months away from the field due to a ligament injury in his left knee.

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In this way, Flamengo will play with: Bruno, Leonardo Moura, Álvaro, Ronaldo Angelim and Juan; Aílton, Toró, Willians and Petkovic; Zé Roberto and Adriano.

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Goiás regains confidence to face Flamengo

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\ Gazeta Press - Goiânia (GO)

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Despite being out of the fight for the title and the vacancy in the Copa Libertadores, Goiás can be considered an unwanted visitor in this Brazilian Championship. This is because it achieved great triumphs away from Goiânia (GO), such as the 4-1 thrashings of Botafogo and Fluminense, in Rio de Janeiro (RJ), and against Corinthians, in São Paulo (SP). Another feat was beating Atlético-MG, then leader of the Brazilian Championship, 1-0 at Mineirão, in Belo Horizonte (MG), practically packed. Precisely because of this history that the players from Goiás dream of repeating the feat this Sunday, at 19:30 pm (Brasília time), at Maracanã, where the Goiás team will face Flamengo.

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"Goiás has the conditions to once again perform great games and that's why we're confident of a great performance in Rio de Janeiro. We respect Flamengo, but our focus is on winning the three points," said striker Felipe.

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Goalkeeper Harley agrees. "Unfortunately, we're out of the title race, because we had a campaign that wowed the whole city. But now we can win a victory at Maracanã against Flamengo, and we should consider that our priority right now," said the goalkeeper.

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Goiás' only absence for this match is midfielder Romerito, suspended for receiving his third yellow card in the 3-1 victory over Santo André. As they aim to increase the team's pace, Iarley is likely to regain his position, forming an attacking trio with Felipe and Fernandão.
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\ In this way, Goiás will take to the field with the following formation: Harlei, Vitor,\ Rafael Toloi, Ernando and Júlio César; Rithelly, Fernando, Léo Lima and Iarley;\ Felipe and Fernandão.

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PELENET

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Even with Goiás in decline, Andrade respects and qualifies the opponent

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Bernardo\Feital
\ In Rio de Janeiro

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Andrade is not fooled by Goiás' poor performance in the second half of the Brazilian Championship. Once a title contender, the Goiás team's form dropped in the second half of the competition and is now "walking" through the tournament. Even so, the Flamengo coach is preaching respect in this Sunday's match at 19:30 p.m. (Brasília time) at the Maracanã, in the 36th round.
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"Goiás' relegation doesn't mean anything. The team is very good and the recent stumbles don't reflect the team's full quality. We have to play our game and take advantage of the fact that we're playing at home to get the three points," he declared.
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Flamengo will be practically full for the match. The absences will be Everton and Maldonado, who are injured. Andrade's lineup is as follows: Bruno; Leonardo Moura, Álvaro, Ronaldo Angelim, and Juan; Aírton, Toró, Willians and Petkovic; Zé Roberto and Adriano.
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"We have many reasons to be confident. We have a good team physically and players who are always making the difference. This is important to fight for the title. That's why Flamengo is doing well," he said.
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The Rubro Negro is directly fighting for the lead. The team is second with 60 points and has a chance of overtaking first-place São Paulo, with 62, in this round. To do so, they need to win and hope for a draw or defeat for the São Paulo team against Botafogo at the Engenhão stadium.
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\ After Esmeraldino, Flamengo still has two matches to complete its\ participation in Série A: Corinthians, away from home, more precisely, at\ Brinco de Ouro da Princesa, in Campinas, and Grêmio, in Rio de Janeiro.

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Already imagining Fla in the Libertadores, Petkovic asks for Maracanã to be open in 2010

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Bernardo\Coimbra
\ In Rio de Janeiro

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Everything is still undefined. But, initially, Maracanã should be closed in December due to construction work for the 2014 World Cup. However, the Secretary of Tourism, Sports and Leisure of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Márcia Lins, has been trying to keep the stadium open for at least the first six months of 2010.
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The Serbian isn't running any political campaign or anything like that. However, already imagining Flamengo in the 2010 Copa Libertadores, Petkovic wants to see the Red-Blacks playing at the Maracanã in this competition.
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"Leave the Maracanã open. Let the construction work begin after the Libertadores. I have already played in this competition for the club and I would really like to win it wearing the red and black shirt," he highlighted.
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However, even with a spot in the 2010 Libertadores virtually assured, Flamengo's current goal is higher: the Brazilian Championship title. With 60 points, the Red-Blacks are two points behind São Paulo, the competition's leader.
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"We will, more than ever, need the fans, who will be our 12th player. The support will be fundamental in the match against Goiás" concluded the Serbian, referring to the duel on Sunday, at 19:30 pm (Brasília time), at Maracanã, for the 36th round of the competition.
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\ To finish top of the round on Sunday, Flamengo, in addition to beating\ Goiás, needs, at the very least, a draw between São Paulo and Botafogo, at 17 pm\ (Brasília time), at Engenhão.

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From the fields to the dance floors: Pet and Adriano become hits at Rio's dance clubs

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Songs inspired by the red-and-black idols are playing in Rio nightclubs: 'I didn't even know. Are you serious about playing at dances?' asks the Serbian

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Eduardo Peixoto Rio de Janeiro

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Adriano and Petkovic celebrate Flamengo's goal in the Brazilian Championship

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From Maracanã to Rio's nightclubs, nonstop. The good phase of Flamengo guaranteed the team's two main idols devotion not only in the stands.
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\ In the wake of the campaign, the duo gained revered funk music. MC Robinho released\ the hit "É o Pet." The constant refrain with the foreigner's name makes it easy to learn\ and is a hit at the city's dances.
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\ GLOBOESPORTE.COM presented the news to the foreigner. He turned up the volume on the speaker and looked at it with a look of astonishment.
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"I didn't know that song existed. Are you seriously playing it at dances? It's not possible. Well, funk isn't my favorite style, but that's okay," he said.

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Click and listen to Pet's funk
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\ The number 10's song is also a part of Rio's nightlife. The chant begins with the traditional "Emperor is back" chant from the red-and-black fans and then tells, in short verses, the player's journey.

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With the "funk duo", Flamengo faces Goiás this Sunday night, at Maracanã. The Rio team is in second place in the Brazilian Championship, with 60 points. GLOBOESPORTE.COM follows in Real Time, with videos, starting at 19:30 pm (Brasília time).

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Check out the lyrics of Pet's funk:\

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\ "It's Pet, it's Pet, it's Pet, it's Pet, it's Pet... \ We have the Emperor, we also have the Pet \ The king of the Olympic goal and the goalkeeper doesn't even move" \

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CRAQUE DA GALERA: see the new partial of the second phase of voting

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Petkovic remains the favorite to reach the grand final. Conca makes a run and appears soon after

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GLOBOESPORTE.COM Rio de Janeiro

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Craque da Galera heads towards the third phase

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After more than two million votes, the second phase of the Craque da Galera points to a big favorite for the title of best player of the Brazilian Championship according to fans: Petkovic.\ At 37 years old, the Serbian went from being a player relegated to the background, as soon as\ he agreed to return to Flamengo, the key piece in the Rubro-Negro campaign, which\ fights for the title of the competition and, consequently, for a place in the Libertadores Cup.

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The midfielder is the clear leader in the election, with more than double the number of votes of the second-placed Conca, who has shown a surprising run, just like his team, Fluminense. In the first partial, the Tricolor appeared in fourth place and, now, has almost 300 thousand votes.

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. Click here and choose from the 20 nominees for Craque da Galera 2009

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 Check out the list of the ten highest-rated players

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The 20 chosen from the Brasileirão clubs were selected on November 7th, with the end of the first phase of voting. Fans will have until next Monday, November 23rd, to vote and nominate the three finalists who will advance to the third phase. The winner will be announced during the Craque Brasileirão party on December 7th in Rio de Janeiro.

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Ricardo Gomes: São Paulo deserves the title more than Flamengo

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Tricolor coach praises Andrade and the red-black team, but praises the quality of his players

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GLOBOESPORTE.COM