Rubro-Negro is the leader after 13 games as home team in the current Brazilian Championship

Marcio Iannacca\ GLOBOESPORTE.COM\

Flamengo fans buy tickets for the game against São Paulo, on Thursday

Flamengo fans truly are the team's 12th biggest player in this Brazilian Championship. It's no wonder that coach Joel Santana and the players have been asking for the red-and-blacks to be present at matches at Maracanã. This Wednesday, the CBF released some statistics from the competition, and the team from Gávea surpassed Sport in average attendance at its home matches.

Statistics show that the Rubro-Negro average attendance is 25.843, compared to Sport's 25.238. This average is expected to rise even further after the match against São Paulo this Thursday at Maracanã. The Rubro-Negro board expects 60 paying fans to attend the match against the Brasileirão leader.

Coach Joel Santana points to Flamengo's fans as one of the main factors behind the team's good performance in home matches.

"Flamengo fans have been a huge help to us. They've never booed us, even when the team is playing poorly. They cheer and sing all the time," says the coach.