THE GLOBE
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CLOSE TO THE SIXTH: Supporter has a light training routine at Granja Comary
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\ Special care for the company's foreign star
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\ Club preserves Petkovic so he is in top condition on Sunday
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\ PETKOVIC DOMINATES the ball with his chest during yesterday's training session: he has been\ spared in\ Teresópolis
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\ Marcos Penido and
\ Mauricio Fonseca
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TERESÓPOLIS. An idol deserves all the care when making a decision. Even more so, a star like Petkovic. That's exactly what Flamengo is doing. The player is being preserved to face Grêmio in excellent form.
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During the week, Petkovic had Monday off; did weight training on Tuesday; did only physical exercises on Wednesday; and yesterday walked laps around the Granja Comary field. Today, depending on an evaluation by the physical trainers, he may be rested again or participate in the training session with the ball. All in the name of preserving his health, and so that he is in the best condition to give his all in the game that could earn him the unprecedented title of Brazilian champion.
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\ Fitness trainer Marcelo Martorelli explained:
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\ - He is already a 37-year-old player and we have to take some precautions. But he is\ ready and prepared to play a great game.
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\ Players watch footage of the 1992 team
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During the week, the players had the opportunity to see the last Brazilian champion team wearing the Flamengo jersey. The team that won the 1992 title against Botafogo, and led by the experienced Júnior.
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"Roughly speaking, I'm playing a similar role to Júnior in that campaign. I hope to be as happy as he was and end up celebrating a very important title," said the Serbian supporter.
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The player made a point of going to the fence to sign autographs and was one of the first to go down to the training field dressed in the Flamengo uniform and accompanied by Adriano, also in uniform. They filmed scenes at the Comary farm for the documentary "Gringo," about his life.
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\ Living a very special moment in his life, Petkovic made a point of\ praising the work of everyone in the Brazilian Championship.
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"Flamengo today is an example of how to play collectively. There is individual excellence, but it only works when all the players sacrifice themselves for the group. It's the collective effort, everyone's participation, that has gotten Flamengo to where it is. Now, total concentration is important for the game against Grêmio. We have the chance to end the year on a high note, repaying all the support we've received from this wonderful fan base," he said.
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\ Petkovic has already heard the funk song that bears his name and is being sung by the fans.\ But he doesn't dare to sing it.
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"It's a hit, but I can't sing," said Petkovic, who can't wait to get on the field and face Grêmio on Sunday. "It will be wonderful if we win this title. It's an opportunity for the whole group to make history wearing the Flamengo shirt."
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With a contract with Flamengo until the end of June, Petkovic isn't a major problem for the club's board. But vice-president of football Marcos Braz already knows that the vast majority of the starting players have received offers to play abroad or for other Brazilian teams in 2010.
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- It's normal. It's better to have offers for your players, which shows that the work we're doing is right, than to be left with stranded stock - Braz stated.
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\ Adriano said yesterday that his desire is to stay at the club:
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- I hope to stay longer at Flamengo, because I'm happy here. I have to think about my personal happiness, my family. And I want to think carefully before making a decision.
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\ Adriano flies low for decision
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\ Top scorer puts on a show in a collective match while the coach searches for the ideal lineup
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\ ADRIANO SIGNS LDU flag. In detail, adhesive tape hides the opening in the boot to protect the heel
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\ Marcos Penido and Mauricio Fonseca
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On Sunday, in the decisive match against Grêmio, Andrade will be without Álvaro and Maldonado for the first time. These two players were crucial to the team's run in the Brazilian Championship. Yesterday, the coach spent the entire afternoon trying to find the best replacement for the suspended defender, who will not face Grêmio at Maracanã – the Chilean is injured. The coach tested several formations, and the one that worked best was with David at the back. But what truly pleased Andrade was seeing Adriano steal the show in the training session.
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\ Andrade tests various formations
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\ With a hole in his boot near the injury on his left heel, the\ forward scored a goal, took free kicks and participated in the best plays of the training session.\ He left Andrade with one certainty: whatever the team's lineup, the\ top scorer is ready to shine and lead the team to the title.
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"The training was great, I felt good, no pain in my heel. The opening we made in the boot worked perfectly. The pain is bearable now," said Adriano, who also used an ointment on the injured area.
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The training session was more than good; it was excellent. Adriano put on a show, with spectacular passes, dribbling, and a lot of movement. The striker was so happy that after practice he went to the fence where the fans were screaming. He took pictures and signed autographs, including on an LDU flag brought by a red-and-black fan.
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Adriano, like all the players, is already feeling the pressure of the final. They're all anxious. And looking back, the top scorer already considers himself a winner. But he knows that only with the title will the consecration be complete.
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"For everything I've been through, this is a wonderful moment. It's already a victory. To be honest, no one, not even myself, expected so much from the beginning. Now all that's missing is the title," added Adriano, who asked for 50 tickets to take his family and friends to Maracanã.
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\ Being with family and friends is what makes Adriano happiest. And when\ things are going well, the striker always remembers Vila Cruzeiro,\ where he was born:
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\ - There in the community, we learn from an early age to overcome the barriers of\ life.
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With Adriano in perfect physical and emotional condition, Andrade's attention is now focused on team formation. Yesterday, he started the training session, which was without Petkovic and Zé Roberto, with Aírton in defense and Fierro in midfield. Kleberson replaced Petkovic and Everton in attack. Early on, Ronaldo Angelim suffered a blow to the rib and left training.
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In the second half, the coach chose a lineup that didn't make too many changes to the team. With David in defense and Aírton, Toró, Willians, and Kleberson in midfield. It was the starting lineup's best moment. Willians played as he always does, on the right, paired with Leonardo Moura. The team became more compact and faster.
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Andrade, who was inclined to start Fierro and drop Aírton to defense, is no longer so sure that this is the best lineup. The changes have disjointed the team, and the players have struggled to get on the field. With David in defense, which means only one change, the starting lineup has performed much better. Today, Andrade will lead another training session, this time with the team he intends to launch on Sunday.
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Party with flags and confetti
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\ President says he doesn't have a 'butt facing the moon'
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Flamengo fans are preparing a party to welcome the team before the decisive match against Grêmio. This time, the idea is to decorate the stadium with 90 flags, 100 balloons, and a shower of confetti in every part of the stands.
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The flags will form a mosaic. Some will be red, others black, creating stripes on the seats and stands. The balloons will be placed in the Maracanã moat, around the field. The goal is to make them rise when the team enters the field. The organized fan groups ask that each fan bring shredded paper to the Maracanã, so that the effect can be felt throughout the stadium. The campaign also requests that they be thrown only at the entrance to the field, and not before.
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\ While the fans prepare, president Márcio Braga, who in other decisions has been overly optimistic, warned that the game will not be easy and that he does not believe in Grêmio's slacking off.
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"We need to focus. Grêmio isn't coming to Rio to hang out on Copacabana Beach," the director, who presided over the club during three of Flamengo's five national titles, told ESPN. "I wasn't born with my ass facing the moon. We have in-house professionals, like Dr. Runco, Isaías Tinoco, Andrade. That's work. These people make me a star."
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Braga even praised the Fluminense fans' celebrations during the final against LDU. But he joked about his rival.
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"The Fluminense fans were wonderful. They learned to support the club. They must have learned from the Flamengo fans," he said.
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Column\ Ancelmo Gois
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Flamengo is\ passion I
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\ Wednesday, in a lecture at Casa do Saber, Jimmy Page, the former Led Zeppelin,\ impressed by the colors that dominated Rio that day, asked the\ audience:
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\ - Is the shirt of the Rio team that will play in the final on Sunday green, maroon and\ white?
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\ He follows...
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\ There was general laughter. Jimmy had confused Flamengo with Fluminense, who\ would play the Copa Sudamericana final that night against LDU. With everything cleared up,\ he asked an assistant:
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\ - Clear everything from Sunday. I won't miss the red and black game.
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\ Flamengo is passion II
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\ TV Globo, in partnership with the state government and Rio's city hall, will install\ three high-definition megascreens for the people to watch Flamengo x Grêmio, live, this Sunday.
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\ The largest (16m x 9m) will be in Piscinão de Ramos. The others will be in Madureira and Padre\ Miguel.
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Column\ Renato Mauricio Prado
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Merit\
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Here are Flamengo's clashes against the teams that can still win the title: 4-0 against Inter at Maracanã and 0-0 at Beira-Rio; 1-2 against Palmeiras here and 2-0 at Palestra; 2-2 against São Paulo at Morumbi and 2-1 in Rio. In short: three wins, two draws, and only one loss. Flamengo has the advantage against the entire top four. Doesn't it deserve to be champion?
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\ The question and the statistics are necessary because I already hear people saying that the possible\ red-black title will be due to the last two games, played against\ clubs that, supposedly, would have an interest in harming their regional rivals.\
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\ So, it's funny to see people who have always defended the thesis that the points system is the only one that guarantees that the best team always wins,\ start to distort their theories trying to discredit Fla's sixth title.
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\ Less, guys, less. The team from Gávea may not be the champion. But they did\ whatever it took to get to the position they reached, they did. And if they win, it will be on their own merits.
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\ How many times, this year, have São Paulo, Palmeiras, Inter (and others) fielded\ mixed teams because of the Libertadores, Copa do Brasil, Recopa, Copa Suruga and\ Sul-Americana?
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\ The points their opponents gained on these occasions weren't fair? And aren't the ones they themselves wasted missing? Well...
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\ A lot of respect for the opponent and total concentration on the game. This is Zico's recipe for Flamengo to win the top title in Brazilian football for the sixth time.
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"This time, I'll watch it live on TV, because our game is on Saturday. And when I see decisions, I usually come out victorious," he tells me from Athens.
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\ Andrade, recalled the "Galo", began his coaching career at CFZ, his\ club.
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"He started coaching the juniors and did so well that he ended up coaching the professionals. And the year he was coaching the main team, we only didn't get promoted to the First Division because the Federation did everything it could to harm us. They even changed the regulations," Zico emphasized.
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\ Speaking of Olympiacos, the club he now manages, the greatest red-black player of all time also showed excitement:
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- Athens is a beautiful city, very similar to Rio. The club has one of the best structures I've ever seen, and last Sunday we won the Greek derby against Panathinaikos 2-0, taking the lead in the championship.
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\ Detail: Olympiacos hadn't beaten their rivals in four years. And Zico tells us more:
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\ - Next week, we'll face Arsenal, here in Athens, in the Champions League.\ We only need a draw to advance to the group stage.
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\ Good luck, champ!
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SPORTS JOURNAL
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Flamengo begins to have an outline for the "decision"
\ \Teresopolis\ - Continuing the red-and-black team's training at Granja Comary, coach Andrade begins analyzing which team will take the field in the decisive match against Grêmio. This Thursday, Adriano trained normally, but Petkovic and Zé Roberto were rested.
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Coach Andrade moved Airton back to defense, playing alongside Ronaldo Angelim. Fierro is expected to slot into midfield. This is just a glimpse of Flamengo preparing for one of the most important battles in its history.
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The team has closed ranks to ensure that Sunday doesn't end in a "Maracanazzo." That is, on the Maracanã stage, with fans, celebrations, and joy before the match, culminating in sadness after 90 minutes. Just as happened in the 1950 World Cup final between Brazil and Uruguay.
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Everton confirmed against Grêmio
\ \Bruno Braga
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\ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ Teresópolis: It's been a long wait, but Everton is back. The midfielder, who was one of Flamengo's standout performers for much of the Brazilian Championship, playing at left-back, is ready to play against Grêmio next Sunday at Maracanã.
\ \The athlete's motivation for his return is clear. Full of desire to play in one of the club's most important matches in recent years, the player has dedicated himself even more in recent training sessions to getting back into peak physical shape.
\ \"No player would like to miss a match like this. One of the most important in Flamengo's recent history. Thank God everything went as expected during the treatment and I will be able to return to the team and help even more on the field so that victory and the Brazilian title can happen," said Everton.
\ \Coach Andrade approached the player to find out what condition he was in. The player confidently replied:
\ \"Andrade called me to talk and asked me some questions about how I was feeling for this match. I told him the truth, that I'm 110% ready, and then he told me that he's counting on me for this game against Grêmio. I really hope that happens. I'm very happy and looking forward to playing for Flamengo again," he concluded.
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Andrade tests offensive team
\ \Rio de Janeiro: Three days before the match against Grêmio, the final round of the Brazilian Championship, Andrade led the Flamengo team on Thursday afternoon at Graja Comary in Teresópolis. The coach began preparing the starting lineup for the decisive duel at Maracanã.
\ \To emerge victorious on Sunday against the Tricolor Gaúcho, Andrade tested the attacking team in the tactical training session held this Thursday. Airton came in for the suspended Álvaro. Pet and Zé Roberto were spared from the training. Therefore, midfielders Fierro, Kléberson, and Everton trained with the first team.
\ \The red-black team\ starting in the activity was: Bruno, Léo Moura, Aírton, Ronaldo Angelim and Juan;\ Toró, Willians, Fierro and Kleberson; Everton and Adriano.
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Flamengo's president says he wasn't born with his ass in the air
\ \Rio de Janeiro: Many wonder how Flamengo managed to reach the final round of the Brazilian Championship with a chance of winning its sixth championship. Convinced he has a convincing answer to this question, club president Márcio Braga has the reason for Flamengo's current form on the pitch.
\ \"I wasn't born with my ass facing the moon. We have professionals who are in-house, like Dr. Runco, Isaías Tinoco, Andrade, physiologists and physiotherapists. This is work and these people are what make me a star," the director told ESPN.
\ \Much controversy arose from the Grêmio football department's decision to rest key players. Souza, for example, will not play because of his strong statements about the decisive match.
\ \Unlike most, however, Márcio Braga does not believe that the Gaucho club will come to Rio for a trip.
\ \"Grêmio doesn't come to Rio to stroll around Copacabana Beach," he concluded.
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Zé Roberto shows confidence with the return of the Emperor
\ \Teresopolis: Adriano, the Brazilian Championship's top scorer with 19 goals, is recovering from an injury and is expected to return to Flamengo next Sunday against Grêmio. This is a source of joy for his attacking partner, Zé Roberto.
\ \"We are more confident when he is on the field. I will try to move around a lot to leave him in front of the goal," said Zé Roberto.
\ \In the last round, against Corinthians, Adriano was left out due to a burn on his foot. His replacement was 21-year-old Bruno Mezenga, who has yet to score a goal in the Brazilian Championship.
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THE DAY
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Petkovic follows in Júnior's footsteps at Fla
\ \The most experienced player in the squad, the Serbian takes on a similar role to that of the Maestro in winning the 1992 title.
\ \Rio - At 37, Petkovic is the oldest player and one of the leaders of the Flamengo team that could win its sixth title on Sunday if it beats Grêmio. The comparison with Júnior and the 1992 campaign is inevitable. In that time, the club failed to win the competition and lost its dominance to São Paulo.
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\ Politicized and concerned with the history of his land, Petkovic carries in his\ memories the year 1992 for different reasons than Flamengo fans. That\ season was marked by changes in his professional life. The Serbian was called up for the Yugoslavia national team for the first time and transferred to Red Star, a powerhouse at the time.
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"I fulfilled a childhood dream, but I also had a great disappointment. They took away my chance to play in the 1992 European Championship because of an international embargo that wrongly affected the sport. Denmark took Yugoslavia's place and won," said Pet, with tears in his eyes.
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The star doesn't often talk about the wars that took place in the former Yugoslavia. But he never stopped showing his love for his homeland. Today, he conveys the same sentiment to Flamengo fans and hopes to have the same end as Júnior at the club, with the Brazilian title.
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\ "As they are talking about it a lot, the videos go on and I had the opportunity to see Júnior. He had a wonderful time,\ he shared his experience. I think I'm playing a similar role to him\ and I hope to be just as happy."
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\ Feeling good about the group, Pet shares the praise for the good campaign with his teammates.\ "At this point, there's no point in talking individually. Flamengo set an example of\ collective play."
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His passion for the fans is easy to understand, but Petkovic also calls for more respect. He was upset by the scenes of violence during the fight for tickets for the game against Grêmio. "This only happens because we have a flawed ticket sales system. There is no loyalty program for fans." partners not even tickets sold for an entire year."
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ADRIANO AND BRUNO\ RECORD PET FILM
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\ On the eve of the game against Grêmio, three protagonists who could create a\ happy ending with the sixth title played together and recalled chapters\ of Flamengo's victorious saga in the 2001 State Championship, with the title over Vasco.\ Petkovic, Adriano and Bruno recorded scenes yesterday for the documentary about the\ Serbian, called O Gringo, scheduled for release in May 2010. The behind-the-scenes footage moved those who witnessed the scene at Granja Comary.
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"They said I was too old for football, it's easy," Pet joked during the recording. "What's that? Not old at all, you're our father, come with us," Adriano replied. The three players filmed the scenes wearing official game uniforms.
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\ Then, the memory of another moment that went down in the club's history. In\ 2001, when Pet scored the winning goal against Vasco, a young Adriano, then 17, watched it all from the bench. "It's so bad being on the bench, isn't it?" Adriano said, acting out a conversation with the foreigner. Then, the Emperor added: "I ran off the bench to celebrate the goal and threw myself on top of the pile of cake formed on top of Pet."
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According to people close to the film's production, the scenes filmed yesterday should be one of the film's key moments. Bruno was asked about Pet's goal, and confessed: "I didn't see it at the time, but I've seen it hundreds of times since. Helton couldn't do anything about it."
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\ Then, the three walked together towards the field where the training session would take place. On Sunday, they could write another chapter in the red-black saga.
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Fans prepare new show
\ \Rio\ - In the countdown, the show's organizers have already begun preparations for the game that could mark the conquest of the sixth Flamengo. On Sunday, there will be 92 thousand hand-held flags, in black and red colors, 100 thousand gas balloons and more than 10 thousand bags of shredded paper.
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\ "It will be the entrance of the team "The most beautiful stadium ever," says Alvarenga, one of the founders of Urubuzada, an organized fan club that gained notoriety for its mosaics in the stands. "Instead of plaques, we're going to have flags above and below the ring. It won't form anything, but it will be beautiful," says Alvarenga, asking anyone who goes to the stadium to bring their own shredded paper.
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\ With the idea of flags and balloons, the mosaic was excluded,\ mainly due to excessive effort. In the game against Goiás, when the crowd\ wrote 'The biggest fans in the world make the difference', 350 volunteers arrived\ at Maracanã at 6 am.
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Flamengo and Colorado fans invade Grêmio training
\ \ \ \Porto Alegre - Without ambitions in the Brazilian Championship, Grêmio trained with public above expectations at the Olympic Stadium. All thanks to the Colorado and Flamengo fans, who invaded the activity held on Thursday afternoon to compete for the Gremistas' preference.
\ \Next Sunday, Grêmio and Flamengo face each other at Maracanã in a match of interest to Internacional. The Colorado club will only be Champion if they beat Santo André at Beira-Rio and if their eternal rival takes points from Flamengo, the current leaders of the championship.
\ \If on the field the\ promise is of seriousness on the part of the tricolors, in the stands the\ request for "delivery" prevails. Taking advantage of the situation, Flamengo fans\ joined the fans from Grêmio to reinforce the "atmosphere of unity" desired for Sunday.
\ \The Colorados, in turn, attend the Grêmio training session during the week as a way of putting pressure on the rival team to play cleanly at the Maracanã and leave a possible Colorado title with a blue detail.
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Adriano is focused on the title: 'I have a star'
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In detail, Adriano's boot is punctured,\ to alleviate the Emperor's pain
\ \Teresópolis - Born in the Vila Cruzeiro favela, Adriano struggled until he became successful in football. After taking life's blows, he cites the example of his journey off the field to reveal that a special smile is in store if he wins the sixth title. The Emperor believes he has a star and knows that the time has come to shine once again, Sunday, against Grêmio, just as happened with Zico, his idol since childhood. On the eve of game decisive, he takes the opportunity to provoke Fluminense. This Thursday, the attacker autographed the LDU flag that a red-black fan took to Granja Comary.
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The Emperor points out that Flu's defeat in the final serves as a warning to the Red-Blacks on Sunday. "We saw what it's like to play a final. You have to be focused," he warned.
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Confident of winning the sixth title, he highlights the obstacles he has overcome in his career. "I believe I have a star power; God knows the person I am on and off the field. I learned one thing in the community: even with many obstacles, we have to overcome them. He who laughs last laughs best. I hope I can smile on Sunday."
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The striker confessed that he didn't watch the last Brazilian title game, in 1992, when he was 10 years old. Time passed, Adriano returned to Flamengo to try to turn things around, but admits that he didn't believe in such immediate success. "I always think big, but I never imagined getting this far, fighting for the title and the top scorer. Because of what I've been through, I already consider it a great victory."
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\ In the middle of interviewAdriano got confused and said he hoped this wouldn't be his last game for the team, but later fixed it and assured he would stay at the club. "It won't be my last game here."
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\ Zico, once again, was cited by Adriano as an example in football.
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"I'll never compare myself to him, but I'm experiencing some of the same moments of glory that Zico experienced. I want to end the year with a flourish." This way, the Emperor will be able to give the long-awaited smile of the one who laughs last. And laughs best.
Cut on the boot\ to relieve pain
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Adriano cut his boot to ease the pain in his left foot. The tear, covered with electrical tape, reduced friction and eased the pain. On Wednesday, the day of his first training session since the burn, the forward was cautious with the ball. Yesterday, the Emperor shone in the training session, showed good movement, provided a beautiful pass for Kleberson to score, and scored twice. Afterwards, to the delight of the fans at Granja, he even answered requests for autographs from red-and-black fans hanging from trees.
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\ In the end, Adriano commented on the injury on his foot.
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"I cut my boot to ease the pain and I felt much better. I put on ointment" (he said to explain the red stain on his sock, denying it was blood). "It still hurts, but now is the time to overcome it and I'll be on the field," said the striker, who bought 50 tickets for the game and distributed them among friends and family.
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Fla trains with Kléberson, Fierro and Éverton among the starters
\ \Teresópolis\ - Coach Andrade selected the team in an offensive way - as promised - in training this Thursday afternoon, at Granja Comary. Without Álvaro, Pet and Zé Roberto, who were spared, treinador put the team on the field with Fierro, Éverton and Kléberson, moving Airton back to the defense.
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During training, Ronaldo Angelim felt muscle pain and ended up leaving. Defender David took his place.
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\ The Flamengo trained with Bruno; Léo Moura, Aírton, Ronaldo\ Angelim (David) and Juan; Toró, Willians, Fierro and Kleberson; Everton and Adriano.
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SPORTS GAZETTE
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Grêmio should have four starters against Flamengo
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From correspondent\ Valter Junior -\ Porto Alegre (RS)
Grêmio is not helping itself.\ Indirectly involved in the dispute for the Brazilian Championship title, Tricolor seems to want to further increase the unknowns about the match against Flamengo, on Sunday. If they draw with Mengão If Inter beats Santo André, the Gremistas' biggest rivals will be the champions.
\ \Since Sunday, managers and coaching staff have been keeping a secret about the team that will take the field at Maracanã. At the Olímpico, no one wants to be accused of giving up the match, but there's also the fear of helping the rival.
\ \To heighten the suspense, Friday's training session will be closed to fans and the press. The list of players who are boarding for Rio de Janeiro will be announced only on Saturday morning.
\ \So far, everything indicates that the team will only have four starters: Mário Fernandes, Fábio Santos, Adilson and Douglas Costa.
\ \Os defenders Réver, with thigh muscle fatigue, and Rafael Marques, with groin pain, are expected to miss the match. The same applies to Fábio Rochemback, who is suspended. Midfielder Tcheco will no longer play for the club, and Souza, after his controversial statements on Sunday, will be sidelined by board decision. Goalkeeper Victor and forward Maxi López are also expected to be rested.
\ \Some reserves are also unlikely to travel to the Marvelous City. These include forwards Jonas and Perea, midfielder William Magrão, and midfielder Renato Cajá.
\ \The most likely Grêmio team at the moment would have: Marcelo Grohe; Mário Fernandes, Wilian Thiego, Léo and Fábio Santos; Túlio, Adilson, Maylson and Douglas Costa; Róberson and Herrera.
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Adriano didn't expect to be champion so soon at the club
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Gazeta Press - Rio de Janeiro (RJ)
Close to winning the title Brazilian Championship, which has not happened since 1992, the Flamengo lives the anticipation of Sunday's match against Grêmio, at Maracanã. One of the main reasons for the team's start in the competition, attacker Adriano admits that he didn't expect to come back and be champion this year.
\ \"I never expected to become champion so quickly with Flamengo, after my return. I hope to leave here happy and as champion. Everything is going well and I hope it continues that way," said the Emperor.
\ \Adriano was left out of the last match, against Corinthians, due to a blister on his foot. However, he has already recovered and confirmed for the decision against Grêmio.
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Andrade begins to outline the team for decision
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Rio de Janeiro - RJ)
Flamengo continued its preparations this Thursday for Sunday's match against Grêmio at the Maracanã, which could give the club the Brazilian Championship title. The squad is currently based at Granja Comary, and coach Andrade has begun to outline the team that will take to the field.
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\ The attacker Adriano trained normally and will be ready for the match. However, Petkovic and Zé Roberto, suffering from muscle pain, were rested, but they aren't a problem. Andrade's surprise role was at the back, with Airton moving back and expected to partner Ronaldo Angelim. Fierro is expected to come into midfield.
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\ The team's lineup for training this Thursday was as follows: Bruno,\ Leonardo Moura, Airton, Ronaldo Angelim and Juan; Toró, Willians, Fierro and\ Kléberson; Éverton and Adriano.
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\ You problems in ticket sales on Wednesday, at Maracanã,\ moved the red-black team. For left-back Juan, the fans' passion to watch the team is another point that will motivate the team to try\ to win the title against Grêmio.
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\"That's surprising. Because what do they do to watch the one game Flamengo, the passion they have for the team is more pressure for us to do our best on the field on Sunday", said the number 6.
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All tickets for this Sunday's match have already been sold. The red-and-blacks hope to once again be crowned Brazilian Championship champions, something that hasn't happened since 1992.
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Doctor guarantees Adriano and Zé Roberto for decision
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Teresópolis (RJ)
In a decisive week in the Brazilian Championship, in which only a victory is needed to win the title, Flamengo fans are living with the apprehension of being able to lose a player due to injury until the time of the match next Sunday, at 17 pm (Brasília time), against Grêmio, at Maracanã.
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\ At Wednesday's training session, fans were in for a shock when midfielder Zé Roberto left early due to discomfort in his right thigh. Because of this, the athlete will have to sit out other training sessions until the end of the week. On Thursday morning, doctor Márcio Tannure, responsible for watching the squad at Granja\Comary, in Teresópolis, reassured the fans and guaranteed the athlete's presence in the duel against the Grêmio team.
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"Zé Roberto felt muscle fatigue in his thigh and we kept him out of training so that things wouldn't get worse. There's no risk of a more serious injury, but now is the time to rest the player for Sunday's decision," the doctor said in an interview with Rádio Brasil, in Rio de Janeiro.
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Another concern among fans is striker Adriano, who missed the 2-0 victory over Corinthians due to a foot injury. The player participated in training on Wednesday, even putting on his boots, but felt some pain. The Emperor, however, is not a concern for the decisive Brasileirão duel.
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"As the wound had improved, we decided to bring forward the planning, which had predicted his return to training only this Thursday," said Tannuer, who did not rule out the possibility of the player using protection on the area during the match against Grêmio.
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\ The possibility of Flamengo having its attacking duo considered as starters in the\ decision against Grêmio is leaving everyone players of the cast very excited. Starting with the ones themselves attackers.
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"We gained a lot with Adriano's return. He's a great finisher and never misses a chance to put the ball in the net. We're more confident when he's on the field. I'll try to move around a lot to put him in front of goal," commented Zé Roberto.
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\ With all the best News After receiving a medical report from the medical department this Thursday, coach Andrade will only have one player missing for the match against Grêmio. Defender Álvaro is suspended after receiving his third yellow card against Corinthians. David is most likely to be chosen to form a central defensive partnership with Ronaldo Angelim. However, the coach has not ruled out moving midfielder Aírton to the defensive sector, bringing on Gil and changing the formation to a 4-3-3.
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Zico doesn't believe that Grêmio will give the game to Fla
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Rio de Janeiro - RJ)
The greatest idol in the history of Flamengo, Zico does not believe that Grêmio will give up the game valid for the last round of the Brazilian Championship, when the Rubro-negro hosts the Gaúchos at Maracanã, this Sunday, at 17 pm. The Tricolor has no more objectives in the competition and if they win they can still help their arch-rival, Internacional.
\ \"I believe that on the other side there is PROFESSIONALS with honor, which has a name. But we have to consider the campaigns. Flamengo at home had a very good performance. Grêmio, if they had a good performance away from home, would be fighting for the title. So under normal conditions, Flamengo would be the favorite," explained the former number 10 to SporTV.
\ \Regardless of Grêmio's stance, Zico advised the Gávea team to continue with the same commitment that marked the team during the second half of the season. Brasileirão. In the last 16 matches, the team only lost one (to Barueri by 2-0).
\ \"Flamengo has to develop its own and work to be champion. I think the team doesn't have to think about that (whether Grêmio will deliver or not) and should give their all", guaranteed the former Rubro-negro player.
\ \"What happens when a team has no objective is that they often don't have the same commitment. Then they concede a goal and have no power to react. But Flamengo, don't think they're going to give up the game," Zico pondered.
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Zé Roberto says that Fla\ is more confident with Adriano
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Rio de Janeiro - RJ)
The Brazilian Championship's top scorer with 19 goals, Adriano is expected to return to Flamengo next Sunday at 17 p.m. in the final round of the Brazilian Championship, when the Red-Blacks face Grêmio at Maracanã. His strike partner, Zé Roberto, was very happy about the Emperor's return.
\ \"We gained a lot with Adriano's return. He is a finisher and doesn't miss the chance to push the ball for the goal. We are more confident when he is on the field. I will try to move a lot to leave him face to face with the goal", commented the number 26 on the club's official website.
\ \In the last round, against Corinthians, Adriano was left out due to a burn on his foot. His replacement was young Bruno Mezenga, 21 years old, who has not yet scored any goals in the Brasileirão.
\ \With four Bahian championships and two Rio titles, Zé Roberto hopes to win his first national tournament this Sunday. "This is the opportunity to make Flamengo's history. It's a moment of total concentration, with all the players focused on the same thought. We have everything we need to achieve a victory", guaranteed the midfielder.
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PELENET
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Concerned, Márcio Braga says: "Grêmio won't come to Rio to visit Copacabana"
\ \From UOL\Sports
\ In Rio de Janeiro
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A Grêmio victory over Flamengo on Sunday would give Internacional the chance to become Brazilian champions. The most talked-about controversy of the week has rattled the nerves of Flamengo president Márcio Braga. Despite the historic rivalry between the southern clubs, he is certain that Internacional will enter the field to do their best. Therefore, he demanded attention and seriousness from all his players.
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"Anyone who thinks Grêmio will come to Rio de Janeiro for tourism is mistaken. They won't come to stroll on Copacabana beach. I'm very worried about this game. We have to play objectively, seriously," said the president.
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Despite being on edge due to Sunday's decision, Márcio Braga considers Flamengo the favorite to win the title. For him, regardless of the Grêmio lineup, the red-and-black team is superior on the field.
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"Our team is better, it's been playing more consistent football. But that doesn't mean anything either. We have to prove it on the field. We can't hesitate for a minute. They have a very strong team and can surprise us," he added.
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Flamengo has 64 points and only depends on itself to win the championship trophy. As direct rivals, besides Internacional, the Rubro-Negro has Palmeiras and São Paulo, all with 62.
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Márcio Braga says that Flu fans learned to party from Fla fans
\ \From UOL\Sports
\ In Rio de Janeiro
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The Tricolor has become a fan favorite in the stands. Fluminense fans cheered the team on in its recovery in the Brazilian Championship and, this Wednesday, made the Maracanã shine with a 3-0 victory over LDU-EQU in the final of the Copa Sudamericana (the Rio de Janeiro team finished runner-up). The spotlight given to the fans of the Laranjeiras club echoed in Gávea and sparked the always controversial comments of Márcio Braga.
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Always provocative, the president of Flamengo praised the performance of the rival fans. However, in his best style, he didn't hold back from taking a dig at the Tricolor. For him, the 'red-black lessons' had an effect.
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"Finally, the Tricolor fans have learned to support their club. They must have learned from the Flamengo fans. I've seen the participation of the Fluminense fans and they've been effective. They've been putting on a very beautiful party," said the president of the red-black team, adding.
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\"The team was down there and now it depends only on its own strength\ to stay in Serie A. The fans were fundamental to the team's recovery, just as Flamengo's fans have done on several occasions", he added, in an interview with ESPN Brazil.
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The two rivals are in opposite situations in the Brazilian Championship. As mentioned by Márcio Braga, Fluminense is fighting to remain in the top flight. With 45 points, the team needs to win or at least draw against Coritiba on Sunday at Couto Pereira.
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Flamengo is having a magical time. If they beat Grêmio, also on Sunday, at the Maracanã, they will be the national champion, a title they haven't won since 1992, when they beat Botafogo in the final.
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Flamengo holds training session without Pet and Zé Roberto; Airton trains in defense
\ \From UOL\Sports
\ In Rio de Janeiro
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Once again, Flamengo's coaching staff decided not to take any risks and left Zé Roberto and Petkovic out of the training session held this Thursday at Granja Comary in Teresópolis. Both have been experiencing muscle pain since the beginning of the week, but, initially, they are not a concern for the game against Grêmio on Sunday. The new addition is Airton in the defense.
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With Álvaro suspended with three yellow cards, Andrade seems to have ruled out the possibility of David, a natural replacement, and moved the midfielder back to play alongside Ronaldo Angelim. This makes the red-and-black team more attacking.
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\ With Airton in defense, the coach leaves Williams in a more marking position in the\ midfield and gives the opportunity to the Chilean Fierro, who gains a place in the right midfield,\ having the role in the game of assisting Petkovic in the creation of plays.
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\ On Tuesday, Andrade already demonstrated his desire to have a more attacking formation,\ since Flamengo needs to beat Grêmio, at Maracanã, to be Brazilian champion after 17 years.
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\ In place of Petkovic and Zé Roberto, the coach fielded Kleberson and\ Everton, respectively, the latter having recovered from a broken foot and should be on the bench. The team that participated in the training was: Bruno;\ Léo Moura, Aírton, Ronaldo Angelim and Juan; Williams, Toró, Kleberson and Fierro;\ Everton and Adriano.
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\ Midway through the activity, Ronaldo Angelim left training after receiving a blow to the rib and was replaced by David, but that's not a concern. Zé Roberto stayed in the weight room, and Petkovic just ran around the Granja pitch. Adriano participated normally and appeared to be fully recovered from the blister on his left foot.
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"I opened my boot and that gave me a lot of relief. I felt less pain and I'll definitely be in the match," said the Emperor, who shares the top spot in the scoring charts with Diego Tardelli, from Atlético-MG, both with 19 goals.
