THE GLOBE
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'I'm a nice guy'
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Bruno completes 200 games for Fla, says he is not arrogant and asks for understanding
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\ BRUNO FALLS to make a save during Flamengo training: goalkeeper shows his\ usual confidence in his ability to ensure that, when his\ chance to defend the Brazilian national team comes, he will not leave again
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\ Marcos Penido
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Bruno, along with Juan, completes 200 games for Flamengo today. At 24, the Flamengo goalkeeper not only reached the top of the group, despite his young age, but also realized the time had come to project a better image of his virtues. He defines himself as a hard-working man, ambitious to win titles and reach new heights, without sacrificing his outspoken style. He even made a special request.
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"I know people see me as a very serious guy on the field, even a bit arrogant and provocative. But I'm nothing like that. I guarantee I'm a nice guy." I wish they would find that out - assures the goalkeeper, one of the red-black team's assets for the duel, today at 17 pm, at the Brinco de Ouro Stadium, against Ronaldo's Corinthians.
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200 GAMES: "It's gratifying. Two hundred games defending a team like Flamengo means that you earned your place with work, effort and dedication. It's not easy. I feel honored and hope to celebrate bigger numbers."
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\ BRAZILIAN TITLE: "I want a title with greater meaning. I don't give\ that much importance to state championships, but that's because I already have three (laughs). I feel that\ there is a possibility of us winning the Brazilian Championship. The team has grown, turned things around, but it doesn't just depend on us. God did his part. If we are meant to be champions, we will be."
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RONALDO: "It's impossible to define. He's an idol, and once an idol, always an idol. He'll try to do his best for Corinthians even though he's a Flamengo fan, because he's a professional. For my part, I hope to do my best in goal and stop him from scoring. It'll be a good duel, and I hope it's favorable to Flamengo."
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LEADERSHIP: "Being a leader is a responsibility. You're born with this gift. Fábio Luciano had a different way of leading than I do. He resolved issues with calm conversations, on and off the field. I speak to people's faces. I say what I think I need to say for the good of the team. Leading a group with experienced players at just 24, as is my case, is a sign that I've earned everyone's respect and trust. I think I'm the first goalkeeper in Flamengo's history to be the team captain. At least not recently. That's no small feat."
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\ FANS: "Flamengo fans will be with me. I have a\ strong personality, I always try to do my best. I know that, if I do it right,\ I'll get a good reception. If I do it wrong, they'll blame me. But there's a\ chemistry, a great affection between us, which, sometimes, creates a certain amount of turmoil. But\ they know I'm a fighter and I want the best. Flamengo fans are like that too. So, things work out. Sometimes, criticism arises, but that's\ the price of fame."
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CAMPAIGN: "The first half of the season wasn't good. We weren't consistent. The group was very young. Against Avaí, we played with eight very young players. When the team was about to enter the relegation zone, we had a meeting. We agreed that we had to get 45 points and then think of something better. Adriano even called me out on it. He said we had to think of something bigger. I replied that we first had to get to 45 points and then think of something bigger. This something bigger came with the arrival of Álvaro and Maldonado. They helped a lot, as did Andrade's continued presence. He has the group in his hands. Today, we are prepared for whatever comes our way. If we win the title, we will celebrate a lot. It wasn't easy to get to this stage."
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\ ERROR: "Maybe my mistake is demanding too much of myself. I'm the one who works the hardest.\ I don't accept time off and on Monday I'm on the field working hard. I like to work\ and I want titles. But sometimes I make the mistake of exceeding my\ objectives."
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PERSONAL LIFE: "I think athletes need to be valued more. We're not artists, we're professionals. If you work in sports, you have to hold me accountable for the sporting aspect. I watch the São Paulo press and they defend the player. Here, if Adriano goes to the beach in his swimming trunks, it's a disaster. That bothers us. People's private lives should be respected. I think it's fair to hold people accountable at work. But what someone does in their personal life has nothing to do with it. It's theirs."
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IDOL: "My idol is Dida. I used to go to Cruzeiro training sessions to watch him train. He's agile and has good reflexes. But in my training, I try to pick up a bit of each. I keep telling myself: I want to be Taffarel when it comes to passing the ball; I want to be Dida when it comes to agility; I want to be Rogério Ceni when it comes to rebounding, and so on. In fact, I see Rio de Janeiro as having a lot of goalkeepers. Fernando Prass, from Vasco, is good; Rafael, from Fluminense, is solid; and Jefferson, from Botafogo, is a great goalkeeper. I've known him since our Cruzeiro days. We're reaching the level of São Paulo, which has Rogério Ceni, Marcos, and others."
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\ SELECTION: "I think the goalkeeper has to worry about showing his worth at his club. When the time is right, the call-up will come. Of course I dream of a spot and I guarantee: if I'm called up, I won't leave. That moment will come one day."
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\ CONTRACT: "I have three more years on my contract with Flamengo. I feel\ super good. To leave, the offer will have to be one that solves your life.\ If not, why leave Rio de Janeiro, the wonderful city?"
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\ IMAGE: "People look at me as a very serious guy, sometimes\ arrogant, but I'm nothing like that. Those who know me know that I'm happy,\ interested in life and a person who seeks to help others and make friends.\ I guarantee that I'm a nice guy. I wish they would discover that and look at me with\ different eyes. A nice person, a good guy."
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\ GIFT: "The greatest gift would be the Brazilian championship title for the Flamengo fans. It's ideal. Sometimes I think about that guy who buys his hard-earned ticket and makes sacrifices to see the team play. If we end the year with the title, this guy will be happy, as will the fans and Rio. Isn't that great?"
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New injury prevents duel\Emperor x Phenomenon
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\ Mezenga replaces Adriano in Fla against Ronaldo's Corinthians
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\ BRUNO MEZENGA (left) fights for the ball with Kleberson: the striker will be\ starting today
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CAMPINAS. At Maracanã, it was the hand of the Phenomenon. In Campinas, it will be the foot of the Emperor. For the second time in this Brazilian Championship, the highly anticipated duel between Flamengo's Adriano and Corinthians' Ronaldo, former teammates on the Brazilian national team, will not take place due to injury. Flamengo and Corinthians face off today at 17 p.m. at Brinco de Ouro da Princesa, in a match that could secure the top spot for Andrade's team. To achieve this, the Rio de Janeiro team, with 61 points, simply needs to win, and leader São Paulo, with 62, must stumble against Goiás at the same time at Serra Dourada Stadium in Goiânia.
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"We can't think about the other results. We have to do our part," said coach Andrade.
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In the first round, the anticipation for a meeting between Ronaldo and the Flamengo fans, following the striker's turbulent decision to sign with the São Paulo club after spending his entire recovery from a knee injury at Gávea, ended up not happening because he broke his left hand in the game against Palmeiras in July and was out of the team for more than a month. This time, Ronaldo's personal motivation is the great asset for Corinthians, tenth in the table and with a guaranteed spot in next year's Libertadores after winning the Copa do Brasil, no longer has any ambitions in this Brasileirão.
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\ On the red-and-black side, the expectation is to overcome the absence of Adriano, ruled out due to a burn on his left foot, which he says was caused by a hot lamp in his garden. Without the competition's top scorer, with 19 goals, Andrade's team is banking on Bruno Mezenga, 21.
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\ Corinthians: Felipe, Jucilei, Chicão, Paulo André and Marcelo Oliveira; Edu,\ Elias, Boquita and Defederico; Jorge Henrique and Ronaldo. Flamengo: Bruno, Leo\ Moura, Álvaro, Ronaldo Angelim and Juan; Aírton, Toró, Willians and Petkovic; Zé\ Roberto and Bruno Mezenga. Referee: Evandro Rogério Roman (PR-FIFA).
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\ TRANSMISSION: Rede Globo and Band and Rádio Globo
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Renato Mauricio\Prado Column
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Black cloud
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Just when everything seemed to indicate that Gravatinha had driven the Supernatural de Almeida out of Rio, the hideous creature suddenly reappears and causes frightening devastation in the Rio de Janeiro scene. First came the defeat suffered by Flu, at the top of the mountain; then Reinaldo's injury at Botafogo, and now, on the same day, Dorival's departure from Vasco, and Adriano's absence from Fla.
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\ All this at a crucial moment for the clubs of the Marvelous City. Flamengo\ plays a decisive game in its ambitions for the Brazilian title (and also for\ securing a place in the Libertadores), Botafogo and Fluminense are fighting fiercely to escape the Second Division, and Vasco begins planning\ for 2010.
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\ Everything seemed to be going so well... Shoo, urucubaca!
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\ This incredible, regrettable and confusing story of the burn suffered by Adriano\ only reinforces the importance of the team concentrating, sometimes for an entire week, when playing decisive games.
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\ I doubt the Emperor would have touched a motorcycle's exhaust pipe, or a\ garden lamp, or a barbecue grill, if he were with his companions,\ at Granja Comary or some similar training center...
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\ Bruno Mezenga? Where's Denis Marques???
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I find Bagá foaming at the mouth in the rubble of General Osório Square. Upon seeing me, the cyclops bursts out, with his famous holy rage:
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- Boss, all it took was for Rubinho to declare himself a Flamengo fan and, hours later, the news came that Adriano wouldn't play against Corinthians! If Barrica wants to dry up São Paulo, he should go and support Inter.
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Calazans Column
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Treacherous lamp
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\ Well, isn't it true that an unsuspecting little garden lamp will take Adriano out of this\ decision - yet another one - at the end of the championship? Right against Corinthians, who don't\ have much to do in the same championship, but who, in any case, are\ Corinthians. And Adriano is one of the team's four decisive players. The others\ are Petkovic, Maldonado (who is no longer playing anyway), and Bruno.
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\ The presence or absence of any of them can represent success or failure. Especially because the "spare parts" (as professors\ doctors would say) are not that great.
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Theoretically, luck hasn't been on Flamengo's side in the final stages of the major competition. Let's see what happens in practice today.
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\ Whenever something happens to Adriano - and how something happens to Adriano! -, he\ complains about the press, for starting to come up with different versions. Adriano has a\ point.
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\But, if the press conjectures another version other than that of the little garden lamp, it is because, throughout his career, Adriano himself was an inexhaustible source of versions, the most varied possible. He must recognize that\his repertoire is voluminous.
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Now, the fans want to know how the team will fare without Maldonado—and without Adriano. With the latter, and without the other, they didn't fare well against Goiás at Maracanã in the previous round. Strictly speaking, they fared worse than I described here. More aware and realistic Flamengo fans were the first to proclaim, some even somewhat angrily, that Flamengo had just thrown away the Brazilian championship title. Really?
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\ What I can remember here, in order to boost the fans' morale a little more, is that Flamengo, with a few exceptions, is a team of\ unforeseen events. Some bad, but others very good.
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\ One of them happened exactly last Sunday. When everyone was expecting everything, it was 0-0, in other words, nothing. That was bad.
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\ Now, who knows, the team might overcome a moment of difficulty - which wouldn't\ be the first or the last time. That would be a good thing.
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THE DAY
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Emperor serves as inspiration
\ \Rio - More than just a casual song of encouragement, "Conquering the Impossible" points in its verses to two very similar life paths. Chosen by singer Jamily to compose the gospel repertoire, the song references her own trajectory and also that of a character who will be missing from the current of faith today. And it is the singer herself who draws the parallel: "Adriano is a superhero, as I say in my song. He plays like hell, always scores goals to lift the team, and he achieved all this even having to overcome obstacles like mine, having also been born in a poor community in Rio de Janeiro," compares the singer, who will not be able to see her idol on the field.
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\ Born in Ladeira dos Tabajaras, in Copacabana, Jamily\ began singing professionally at the age of 7, but only 'gained wings'\ after winning a competition of freshmen on Raul Gil's show. Today, at 17, he lives with his entire family in a house in São Paulo, and has already released five albums and two DVDs. "This song reflects a bit of my life, of everything I've achieved. I was born into poverty and had a very humble childhood. These Flamengo boys have stories similar to mine. They fought hard and today they are winners," he says.
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\ Although it is not assumed fan of any team, Jamily is a legitimate descendant of the red-black race. "My grandfather was a Flamengo fan and my father is too. He was very happy when I told him about the talk, since my day is also being used to help your team", says Jamily, who reveals that she already has a certain familiarity with the dramas and joys of football boots.
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\ "The Carlos Alberto brothers, from Vasco, and Fernando, from Goiás, are my friends. And my brother Isaac, 14, is training at the São Paulo academy. I know very well what a soccer player's routine is like, and how important encouragement is for them. I pray that one day Isaac will also be among those boys who listen to my music today," he hopes.
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\ Today, when the chords of 'Conquering the Impossible' sound, during the\ pre-match talk in Campinas, Jamily will be praying for the team's victory, for which she sends a message:
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\"Keep chasing your dreams, because you are all proof that\ dreaming is possible. And have faith in God, everything works out when He is in\ front."
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Superhero soundtrack
\ \The song 'Conquistando o\ Impossível', a hit by gospel singer Jamily, serves as inspiration and motivation for Flamengo players
\ \Rio\ - Flamengo dresses up as a superhero, creates wings to touch the sky, becomes\ unbeatable, champion, winner and conquer the impossible through faith. Set to the gospel song "Conquering the Impossible" by Jamily, the Red-Black team faces Corinthians today at 17 p.m. at Brinco de Ouro da Princesa in Campinas. In the decisive stretch of the Brazilian Championship, the coaching staff uses the soundtrack with powerful images in the pre-match talk to encourage the players to seek strength within themselves and believe until the very end, as the song says, that winning the sixth championship is a possible dream.
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\ With 61 points, the team accurate win and hope for a stumble by São Paulo, with 62 points, against Goiás. In the event of a defeat and a victory for the Tricolor paulista, Flamengo will lose tune and say goodbye to the objective it has sought for 17 years.
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"Jamily's song is a hit. We used it as the soundtrack for the pre-match video and the players received it very well. I'll use it again before the game against Corinthians, but with new images," revealed assistant coach Marcelo Salles, who discovered the song through a recommendation from his wife, an evangelical.
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Along with the verses of Jamily, who was born on Ladeira dos Tabajaras in Copacabana and sings the song to prove the power of overcoming a difficult and impoverished childhood, the coaching staff created a music video with images that marked Flamengo's campaign in the Brasileirão. "The song and the video were great; it serves as an extra stimulus. We players were moved," says Leonardo Moura.
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The images used by the coaching staff highlight the group's unity. One emblematic part is when Jamily sings the verse "Believe me, none of us/ were born with the talent to be superheroes": the scenes show Adriano celebrating a goal against Coritiba at the Maracanã stadium, Hulk-style, shirtless, with his muscles on display.
"I have rarely seen a group as united as this one. Before boarding for Recife, I looked and saw all the players sitting in the airport lounge together, side by side. It was proof of unity," said Adriano.
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In addition to Adriano's celebration, the video shows the players in training, hugging each other, celebrating goals together, Andrade on the sidelines, and the team posing on the pitch, illustrating the moment the team wins the championship. "It's not a hype, we're not saying we'll be champions. It's motivational," says Marcelo Salles.
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Flamengo's superheroes want to fly high. Not even the sky is the limit. And Jamily's verses remind us:
\"Champion, winner, this faith that makes you unbeatable (...) Conquering the impossible\ through faith". Faith, victory and title. This is the soundtrack of Rubro-Negro. It remains to be seen whether it will become a hit.
The lyrics that inspire players
\ \Discover the lyrics of the song 'Conquistando o Impossível', which has been used to motivate Flamengo players.
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\ "Believe it's time to win/This strength comes from within you/You can even\ touch the sky if you believe.../ Believe that none of us/was born with the talent to be a superhero/Our dreams/we are the ones who build/ It is winning the limits/ climbing the fortresses/ conquering the impossible/ through faith..."
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\ Chorus:
\ "Champion, winner/ God gives you wings, makes you fly/ Champion, winner/ This faith that\ makes you unbeatable, shows you your worth...
\ Believe that none of us/was born with the talent to be a superhero/ Our dreams/\ we are the ones who build/ By overcoming limits/ climbing fortresses/\ conquering the impossible/ through faith..".
\"So many records/ you can break/ The barriers/ you can surpass/ and\ win".
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Report by Janir Junior and Beatriz Mota
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Fla fights to stay on track
\ \Without driver Adriano, Petkovic has the mission of making the team run over Corinthians, and continue in the fight for the Brazilian Championship title.
\ \BY\ JANIR JUNIOR
\ \Campinas - Adriano requested an appointment with doctor José Luiz Runco yesterday to try to play, but after being examined, he was advised not to force the issue. The Flamengo group felt the blow with the absence of attacker, who burned his left ankle while riding a motorcycle. Andrade set the scene to field Bruno Mezenga, but today the surprise should be Gil alongside Zé Roberto in the red-black attack, or Denis Marques, called up in a hurry, and highly rated for the vacancy of the Emperor.
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After a grueling trip on Friday night, the team held a light training session yesterday at the resort where they are staying, in Atibaia, in the interior of São Paulo. The impact of the Emperor's absence was still strong in the group.
"I was sad, because we are dependent on his goals. We lost a great player and friend, who makes a difference on the field," said Leonardo Moura. "But, not even crowd The group doesn't even have to be desperate, as we've played without him on other occasions and won, like in the game against São Paulo", added the full-back, still hopeful.
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\ Without Adriano, the highlight of yesterday's game was goalkeeper Bruno, who\ played as a striker, scored goals and, in an ironic tone, guaranteed that he had a vocation to be a\ goalscorer.
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"If I had taken another five minutes to be born, if I had stayed just a little longer in my mother's belly, I would have been born an Emperor," joked the goalkeeper.
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Bruno asked security to let dozens of children in, who, ecstatic, quickly spread out across the pitch and asked their idols for autographs. One young São Paulo fan even played dribbling with full-back Léo Moura.
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\ Shaken by the drama of being left out of such an important match, Adriano until\ yesterday was still thinking about idea to travel today to Campinas and participate at least in the pre-match talk with his teammates, in the locker room of the Brinco de Ouro da Princesa stadium.
During training,\ lots of teasing
\ \Flamengo was seeking peace at its luxurious resort in Atibaia, but it was the victim of irony during yesterday's training session. Without driver Adriano, the players used a little train to travel from the field to the hotel lobby. A São Paulo fan shouted, "It's the vice-champion's train." Some players gave the jokester dirty looks. But on one of the benches, oblivious to the provocation, the club's president, Márcio Braga, waved to fans, Santa Claus-style.
\ \A special match for Bruno and Juan
\ \Bruno and Juan completed 200 games for Flamengo today. For both of them, the best gift would be a victory over Corinthians.
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"The brand is important, even more so at a club as prestigious as Flamengo. But, my thoughts are focused on a victory over Corinthians. It will be the game of our lives," said the full-back.
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\ Zé Roberto complained of pain in his right foot and did not participate in the recreational activity, but\ he was still unable to rest. He ended up with one task: he was the referee of the\ rachão.
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SPORTS GAZETTE
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Flamengo faces Corinthians to stay in the fight
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Gazeta Press - Campinas (SP)
The clash between the clubs with the biggest fan bases in Brazil will be decisive for the Brazilian Championship. With 61 points, Flamengo will try to overtake leaders São Paulo (62 points) with a victory over Corinthians at 17 pm (Brasília time) this Sunday, at the Brinco de Ouro da Princesa stadium, in Campinas.
\ \Rubro-negro could already be in first place, but they drew goalless with Goiás in the last round and didn't take advantage of São Paulo's 3-2 defeat to Botafogo. Just like on that occasion, this weekend they will face another team with no aspirations in the Brasileirão.
\ \With a spot in the Copa Libertadores da América secured, Corinthians has 49 points and is just playing for the table. But the duel is surrounded by rivalry, mainly because of Ronaldo. The Phenomenon preferred to play for Helm, causing outrage among Flamengo fans, who never miss a chance to provoke him with offensive songs.
\ \The player who replaced Ronaldo in the hearts of Flamengo fans will not be on the field. Adriano suffered a burn on his left foot and will be replaced by young Bruno Mezenga. "We're not going to put the kid under pressure. He needs to come in calmly to show his football fans", commented coach Andrade, forgetting the anger of the red-blacks against the Phenomenon.
\ \"Flamengo isn't thinking about anything other than winning, which would be very important because it would mathematically put us in the next Libertadores and still keep us in the fight for the title. We're not worried about what might be happening off the field and we just want to focus on doing our job well," said Andrade.
\ \In the stands, however, a curious union could help Flamengo fans. Corinthians fans don't want their rivals São Paulo to be champions. "But I doubt they'll ask to hand over the game or anything like that. Everyone wants to win", said Corinthians coach Mano Menezes, guaranteeing seriousness in the duel. "We will do our best, because that's how it should be."
\ \Another concern of Andrade's is to convey to his players the need to be focused exclusively on the match against Corinthians, leaving aside what might be happening with São Paulo, which at the same time will visit Goiás at the Serra Dourada stadium. The players seem to have absorbed the message well.
\ \"We can't keep thinking about what's happening in São Paulo's match, because we'll already have a lot of difficulties ahead of us against Corinthians, which is our focus at the moment. Only after our game will we analyze the table to see if we still have a chance of winning the title. There's no point in São Paulo stumbling if Flamengo can't win. We saw proof of that in the last round," learned right-back Leonardo Moura.
\ \Flamengo has already decided on the starting lineup for this match, with Andrade practically repeating the lineup that drew with Goiás - the exception being the absence of Adriano. Corinthians will be without Paraguayan Edgar Balbuena, who is suspended by the Superior Court of Sports Justice (STJD). Midfielder Jucilei has recovered from injury and will be deployed at right-back. Escudero will remain on the left.
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Without Adriano, Andrade takes the pressure off Bruno Mezenga
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Rio de Janeiro - RJ)
With the department's veto doctor ao attacker Adriano, coach Andrade decided to give young Bruno Mezenga an opportunity in this Sunday's match against Corinthians in Campinas. Despite the importance of the game, the coach avoids making excessive demands on him. young athlete.
\ \"We can't put too much pressure on the kid. We have to keep him calm and at ease, because he's coming in and knows what he has to do. Pressure would be bad for his psychology. He's aware of the opportunity and maybe this is his chance to show that he's a useful player for Flamengo," he said.
\ \Adriano is ruled out because he suffered a burn on his left foot. Thus, Mezenga beat out competition from Gil and Denis Marques to take over the starting spot, forming a duo with Zé Roberto.
\ \Despite the coach's shielding, the boy knows that he is facing the greatest opportunity of his career, as Flamengo is in the fight for the Brazilian Championship title.
\ \"I always demanded of myself for knowing my potential. At the youth level, I scored a lot of goals, played well and I know that I need to repeat that in professional", said the striker, who, at 21 years old, has played 18 games in the Rubro-negro's main team.
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PELENET
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Without Adriano, Flamengo bets on a striker who is "zero" among the professionals
\ \folhapress
\ In Rio de Janeiro
Shaken by the loss of Adriano, who suffered a burn on his left foot, Flamengo is betting on a young 21-year-old striker, Bruno Mezenga, to beat Corinthians in Campinas and try to overtake São Paulo at the top.
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\ Launched into the main group at 16 as the 'new Adriano', Bruno Mezenga\ never scored for the club's professionals. Adriano is the championship's top scorer, with 19 goals.
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Mezenga scored over a hundred goals in the youth teams, played for the Brazilian U-17 team, but failed to maintain his place in the first team. He was a top scorer in the Turkish second division in the 2008/2009 season, returned to Flamengo in July, remained on the bench, came on in a few matches, and remained uncapped.
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\ His nickname is a reference to the character Bruno Mezenga, from the soap opera 'O Rei do\ Gado', from the 90s - his name is Bruno Ferreira Mombra Rosa.
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Adriano, 27, has scored 35,2% of the team's goals and 27,6% of Flamengo's shots on target. Only midfielder Petkovic, 37, has been more important. The forward is out because he suffered a burn on his foot, which he claims he suffered after touching a lamp in his garden.
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Even with Adriano's absence, announced only late Friday afternoon, thousands of red-and-black fans traveled from Rio de Janeiro to Campinas. The club's most recent Brazilian title dates back to 1992.
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\ With a weakened attack, Flamengo is concerned about its defense, which will have forward Ronaldo to face. "We need to stay on top, not leave spaces," said midfielder Willians.
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\ Coach Andrade reinforces the caution: "Ronaldo is not the Phenomenon by chance.\ In the short space of time he makes a difference. You can't even let yourself think about it."
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Defender Álvaro, who faced Ronaldo several times in Spain when his opponent played for Real Madrid, said that his chubby profile doesn't hinder him: "Whether he's overweight or not, he's really different. He's highly explosive and fast, a natural born killer."
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In the fight for the title, Toró understands that Fla needs to "forget" São Paulo
\ \Pedro Ponzoni
\ In Rio de Janeiro
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With two games remaining in the Brazilian Championship, Flamengo is actively competing for the title, but must hope that São Paulo, who lead the competition by one point, lose. However, Toró understands that his team should not focus on the São Paulo team, but rather on the Rubro-Negro's own commitments.
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This Sunday, Andrade's men take on Corinthians at the Brinco de Ouro stadium in Campinas. São Paulo will visit Goiás at the Serra Dourada stadium. All matches valid for the penultimate round of the Brasileirão will start at 17 pm (Brasília time).
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"This fight for the title is very difficult. However, I understand that we cannot keep thinking about São Paulo. There will be no point in paying attention to what is happening in their game if we don't do our part," said the midfielder.
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The midfielder's vision serves as a warning to the rest of the team because last weekend, the team coached by Ricardo Gomes lost to Botafogo at the Engenhão Stadium. However, Flamengo was unable to beat Goiás at the Maracanã Stadium, drawing goalless, and missed the chance to take first place in the table.
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For this Sunday's match, coach Andrade will be without Adriano. The competition's top scorer with 19 goals suffered a burn on his left foot. The club's medical department determined that the athlete had an inflamed area and, therefore, would not have enough time to recover. Therefore, Bruno Mezenga was chosen by Andrade to form the attacking duo with Zé Roberto.
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\ In this way, Flamengo will be lined up with the following formation: Bruno;\ Leonardo Moura, Álvaro, Ronaldo Angelim and Juan; Aírton, Willians, Toró and\ Petkovic; Zé Roberto and Bruno Mezenga.
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GLOBOESPORTE
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Without the Emperor, the Fla group seeks strength to react and avoid a bitter end
\ \Léo Moura admits that the team is dependent on goals, but remembers the victory over São Paulo without the presence of the striker
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Leo Moura (D) confesses to the team's disappointment with Adriano's absence: 'Nobody expected it'
\ \Flamengo didn't expect to be without the Emperor in the final stretch of the Brazilian Championship. The perplexity and anxiety over the absence are clear. However, efforts are being made to prevent the blister on the foot that took the player from growing and bursting on the team in the event of a failure against Corinthians.
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\ - We were sad, no one expected it. We are dependent on his goals –\ admitted Léo Moura.
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Besides being the team's top scorer with 19 goals, Adriano is the balance between the veterans and the youngsters on the team. Everyone respects him, everyone admires him. That's why even his presence in Campinas would be important for the group.
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\ Among the fans, the absence even caused a certain discouragement.
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"Adriano isn't going to play? Then it's over," said student Marcelo França.
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Léo Moura raises his finger and asks to speak. He remembers that this won't be the first time Flamengo will play without the star.
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"He's been to the Brazilian national team a few times and we've won. Like in the game against São Paulo, for example," said the full-back, referring to the 2-1 victory over the league leaders at the Maracanã.
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With or without the Emperor, Flamengo can no longer afford to make mistakes in the final two rounds. The team is in second place with 61 points, one behind São Paulo. If they slip up, they could even lose second place to Inter, and will likely reach the final round against Grêmio with no chance of winning the title.
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Sunday of possibilities in the Brazilian: seven, new leader or four for the title
\ \Match-fixing could seal São Paulo's seventh title, but Fla is fighting for the lead, while Palmeiras and Inter are fighting to stay alive.
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Ten simultaneous games. At 17 pm this Sunday (Brasília time), the 37th and penultimate round of the
Brazilian Championship, which can either decree the seventh championship of São Paulo how much to see the Flamengo take the lead and even end with Inter and Palmeiras back in the title race. At the bottom of the table, six clubs are trying to secure another week of breathing room in the fight against relegation in the competition.
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\ São Paulo's hopes are based on a combination of competitors' stumbles: in addition to having to win the Goiás, in Serra Dourada, the Tricolor leader, with 62 points, is hoping for a Fla defeat and for Palmeiras e Inter don't win their matches.
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Rogério Ceni, Petkovic, D'Alessandro and Diego Souza could even finish the round tied for the lead
\ \"We need to maintain our balance throughout the 90 minutes. We haven't shown our true style at the beginning of matches. And that's a concern against Goiás. After all, they already demonstrated in the match against Flamengo that they'll go out looking for a win," said Goiás coach Ricardo Gomes.
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Hot on the heels of the Morumbi team,\ with 61 points, but surprised by the loss of their top scorer, Adriano, on the eve of the duel with Ronaldo and Co., Rubro-Negro faces Corinthians, in Campinas, dreaming of a repeat of the stumble of the Tricolor Paulista last Sunday, when the team of coach Ricardo Gomes was defeated and opened the doors to the leadership for the team from Gávea, who were unable to take advantage of the opportunity and ended up in a goalless draw with the Esmeraldino, in front of a packed Maracanã.
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\ Two other duels complete the fight for the top spot in the standings. At\ Palestra Itália, Verdão, with 59 points – attacked in an ambush late this Saturday afternoon\ –, receives the Athletic-MG, with 56, in a direct confrontation for a place in the Libertadores. Colorado, also with 59, goes to Ilha do Retiro to face the already relegated Sports.
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G-4 may have teams tied on points
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If the fight for the title was the fiercest in the Brasileirão's points-based league, the competition could still reach its climax. If the São Paulo team loses, the red-and-blacks draw again, and both Palmeiras and Inter emerge victorious, the Sunday, December 6th, match will feature a clash between four teams tied on 62 points. In this case, Inter would take the lead based on a tiebreaker based on wins - 18 to 17 over their rivals - and Palmeiras would take second place based on goal difference.
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\ Still with a mathematical chance of being champion, but focused on the fight for a place\ in the G-4 and driven by the rivalry with Atlético, Cruzeiro (56) take the Coritiba, coached by Ney Franco, one of those involved in the fight against relegation, in 14th place, with 44 points.
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Santo André and Náutico can say goodbye
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O Fluminense tries to recover from the defeat suffered by LDU on Wednesday (5 to 1) and receives the GHT - Vitória, at Maracanã, in a game that could take the Tricolores out of the Z-4 for the first time since the tenth round. The Bahians, in 13th place, with 47 points, will take to the field for the first time after the announcement that coach Vagner Mancini is leaving the club, motivated by the fight for a place in the South American.
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"We have to be smart and know how to differentiate. We've won five games in a row in the Brazilian Championship. Are we going to let it all go down the drain? We're going to fight with all our might to get the win and get out of the relegation zone," said Cuca, worried about the effects of the defeat in Quito.
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The war against relegation has two direct confrontations. At the Arena da Baixada, Atlético-PR receive the Botafogo in a duel that could condemn one of the two teams to the relegation zone, in case of a Flu victory. In ABC Paulista, St. Andrew e Nautical – both with 38 points – are clinging to their last chance of remaining in the Brazilian football elite. Besides the desperation, the teams share two obligations – winning and hoping for a winner in the match between Furacão and Alvinegro – in the event of a draw in Curitiba, Ramalhão and Timbu will say goodbye to the First Division this Sunday.
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\ Only two matches in the penultimate round do not directly affect the two ends of the table. At the Olímpico, Grêmio e Barueri duel, in a game whose main attraction is the farewell of the Czech midfielder from the Gaucho fans. At Ressacada, coach Silas plays his penultimate match in charge of the team Avaí against Santos, by\ Vanderlei Luxemburgo.
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Fans' Ace: Conca\ leads the first set, followed by Petkovic and Hernanes
\ \Flu midfielder has 42% of the fans' preference against 39% of the red-black
\ \GLOBOESPORTE.COM Rio de Janeiro
\ \Pet, Conca and Hernanes\ compete for preference
\ \The first week of voting for Craque da Galera, an award that is part of Craque do Brasileirão 2009, had more than 600 thousand votes. And the fans of Fluminense, which put midfielder Conca in the lead with 42% of the vote. But Petkovic, from Flamengo, is very close, with 39% of the votes,\ followed by Hernanes, from São Paulo, with 19%.
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The same three fan clubs nominated their representatives for the "Crack of the Crowd" award last year. The title went to Thiago Silva, then a defender for the Rio de Janeiro club, who was competing for the title with Juan from Rio de Janeiro and Hernanes from São Paulo. So, for the second year running, Fluminense has taken home the award.
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\ If you want to change this dispute, vote for your chosen one in www.globoesporte.com/craquedagalera. The final result will be announced on December 7th at the party of the best of Brazilian Championship, in Rio de Janeiro.
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Preserved, Bruno Mezenga\ should be on the bench against Corinthians
\ \The coaching staff fears excessive pressure on the striker. Gil and even the forgotten Denis Marques have a better chance of playing.
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Gil has a chance to appear in the attack
\ \Andrade misled and announced Bruno Mezenga as Adriano's replacement in this Sunday's game against Corinthians. But this probably won't be the lineup for FlamengoThe coach wants to preserve the striker and will opt for the experience of Gil or Denis Marques.
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Mezenga did not give an interview this Saturday. The coaching staff fears that the excessive pressure on the 21-year-old striker will hinder him in the game against Corinthians.
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Practically out of the plans until Friday, Denis Marques was called in quickly by the coaching staff because of the burn on the Emperor's foot and arrived in Atibaia, in the interior of São Paulo, at lunchtime. He is competing for the position to play alongside Zé Roberto with Gil. The Rubro-Negro should enter the field with: Bruno; Léo Moura, Álvaro, Ronaldo Angelim and Juan; Aírton, Toró, Willians and Petkovic; Zé Roberto and Denis Marques (Gil).
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\ In second place in the Brazilian Championship, one point behind São Paulo, Flamengo plays\ against Corinthians, in Campinas.\ GLOBOESPORTE.COM follows in Real Time, with videos,\ starting at 19 pm (Brasília time).
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SHORT NEWS: Juan and Bruno complete 200 games for Flamengo
\ \After Ronaldo Angelim, the goalkeeper and full-back also reached the milestone in the final stretch of the Brazilian Championship. Marcio Braga accompanies the team in Atibaia
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Marcio Braga: president\ in Atibaia
\ \Against Goiás, Ronaldo Angelim completed 200 games with the shirt of Flamengo. This Sunday, against Corinthians, two more players from the current squad reach the milestone: Bruno and Juan.
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"I've had this shirt for so long, it's impossible not to get emotional and celebrate such an important milestone. I play for the strongest club in Brazil, and it's truly a moment of great joy. I hope it's a day celebrated with victory," said the left-back.
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\ Because of the decisive phase in the Brazilian Championship there will not be any type of\ tribute to the two.
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Referee
Zé Roberto complained of pain in his right foot and did not participate in the recreational session this Saturday. The player was the referee. At the end, his performance was praised by Petkovic. The Serbian made a point of congratulating him.
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President in the area
\ Marcio Braga is in Atibaia with the red-black delegation to watch the game\ against Corinthians, this Sunday, in Campinas.
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Irony of a São Paulo fan trying to derail the red-black train in Atibaia
\ \At the end of training, a shout of 'Look at the vice-president's little train' embarrasses the group
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Players hitch a ride on the little train
\ \The red-and-black train was ready to hit the tracks and head to the quarters late this Saturday afternoon. Sitting next to Léo Moura, President Marcio Braga smiled and waved. He just didn't expect the irony from a São Paulo fan, who shouted:
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\ - Look at the vice's little train.
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\ Everton Silva looked at him with a mean face, but didn't respond. In second place in the Brazilian, Flamengo face the Corinthians this Sunday and needs to win and hope for a stumble from São Paulo against Goiás, in Serra Dourada, to take the lead.
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\ - Against Corinthians it will be the game of our lives – said right-back\ Léo Moura.
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The resort where the red-and-black delegation stayed, in Atibaia, is a weekend getaway for upper-class families from São Paulo. At the end of training, authorized by goalkeeper Bruno, the children invaded the pitch.
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Some wore Corinthians shirts, others wore São Paulo shirts. But everyone wanted the red-and-blacks' autographs. Léo Moura ignored the rivalry and kicked the ball around with a São Paulo boy. In the end, Bruno even agreed to save penalties taken by all the children.
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Léo Moura leaves rivalry aside and gives an autograph to a São Paulo fan
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Adriano makes a final effort, but the burn is still bothering him and preventing him from playing.
\ \Player visits José Luiz\ Runco in Rio, but will not participate in the match against Corinthians
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