Flamengo and Fluminense are in Group A, and Vasco and Botafogo are in Group B. The format of the competition remains unchanged, and the State Championship begins on January 16th.
\ \ \ \Still without knowing whether it will be able to use the Maracanã for the\ Campeonato Carioca, the Rio de Janeiro State Football Federation (Ferj)\ released this Thursday the schedule for the 2010 State Championship. Flamengo e Fluminense were in Group A, alongside Bangu, Boavista, Duque de Caxias, Volta Redonda, Americano and the runner-up of the Second Division, which is still in dispute. In Group B, they are Vasco e Botafogo, in addition to Friburguense,\ Resende, Madureira, Tigres, Macaé and the champion of Series B - Olaria (29 points),\ Sendas (27) and América (26) are the first placed in the fight for access.
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Maracanã has been scheduled to host regular matches, including Flamengo and Fluminense's matches against smaller clubs. However, the stadium's use is subject to confirmation from Suderj (Rio de Janeiro State Sports and Recreation Authority). In recent days, Rio de Janeiro's Secretary of Tourism, Sports and Recreation, Márcia Lins, has expressed support for the idea, as construction work on the stadium for the 2014 World Cup has been postponed.
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GROUP A \ | \
B GROUP \ |
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FLAMENGO \ | \
BOTAFOGO \ |
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FLUMINENSE \ | \
VASCO \ |
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BANGU \ | \
TIGERS \ |
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GOOD VIEW \ | \
RESEND \ |
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DUQUE DE CAXIAS \ | \
MADUREIRA \ |
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ROUND ROUND \ | \
FRIBURGUENSE \ |
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AMERICANO \ | \
MACAÉ \ |
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Runner-up of the Second Division \ | \
Second Division Champion \ |
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The State Championship begins on January 16th and runs until May 2nd. The format is the same as last year, with the 16 clubs divided into two groups. In the first round (Taça Guanabara), teams from the same group face each other in seven rounds. The top two teams qualify for the semifinals: 1st A vs. 2nd B and 1st B vs. 2nd A.
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The 1st round of Carioca 2010
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DATA \ | \
DEPARTURE \ |
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16 or 17/01 \ | \
BANGU x BOAVISTA \ |
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16 or 17/01 \ | \
FLAMENGO x DUQUE DE CAXIAS \ |
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16 or 17/01 \ | \
Series B Runner-up x VOLTA REDONDA \ |
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16 or 17/01 \ | \
AMERICANO x FLUMINENSE \ |
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16 or 17/01 \ | \
fRIBURGUENSE x RESENDE \ |
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16 or 17/01 \ | \
MADUREIRA x Series B Champion \ |
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16 or 17/01 \ | \
MACAÉ x BOTAFOGO \ |
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16 or 17/01 \ | \
VASCO x TIGRES \ |
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According to the president of Ferj, Rubens Lopes, the semifinals of the GB Cup will again be played on Carnival Saturday and Ash Wednesday, in response to a request from the Military Police.
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In the second round (Taça Rio), the clubs face opponents from the other group in a total of eight rounds. And the top two from each group also qualify for the semifinals, following the same model as the first round.
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The winners of the Guanabara Cup and the Rio Cup will compete for the Campeonato Carioca title on April 25 and May 2. If the same club wins both rounds, it will be considered the champion, without the need for a final.
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Vasco and Flamengo will debut at home against Tigres and Duque de Caxias, respectively. Fluminense and Botafogo will play away in the first round. Tricolor faces Americano in Campos, and Alvinegro plays against Macaé.
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The first classic will be in the third round, on January 3th, between Vasco and Botafogo. Flamengo and Fluminense will face each other in the fifth round, on the 24st.
\ \\ \ In the Rio Cup, Fluminense and Botafogo face each other on March 7th (3rd round), Vasco and Flamengo face each other on March 14th (4th round), Botafogo and Flamengo duel on March 21st (5th round), and Vasco and Fluminense play on March 28th (7th round).