Little by little, Flamengo's 2010 squad is taking shape. After two matches in which the team took the field with numerous absences, next Saturday coach Andrade will be able to count on much of the backbone of the 11 starters expected to play most of this year's matches. Right-back Leonardo Moura and defender Alvaro, for example, return to the starting lineup for the match against Bangu at the Engenhão stadium.

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Sent off in the first round against Duque de Caxias, Alvaro was unable to face Volta Redonda, but he returns to the field next Saturday. Léo Moura, who didn't even participate in the preseason with the group in Porto Feliz, in the interior of São Paulo, due to nose surgery, has fully recovered and is cleared to make his 2010 debut. Vagner Love, Flamengo's big signing for the season, is another player with a good chance of playing. Flamengo hasn't yet registered the player for the State Championship, but should do so in the next few hours. Adriano, meanwhile, will be interviewed by the coach about his starting lineup.

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"The team is now starting to get stronger. But I don't want to undervalue these players. They left me satisfied. Today (Wednesday) we won and convinced everyone. Adriano asked me for some time, but didn't set a deadline. But I'm waiting for him, for Love, Álvaro and Léo Moura," Andrade explained.

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Despite important reinforcements, the coach is expected to be without one of his key defensive players. The top ball-stealer of the last Brazilian Championship, Willians, is still recovering from the ankle injury suffered against Duque de Caxias and is unlikely to return in time to face Bangu. Therefore, the likely starting lineup for Saturday is as follows: Bruno, Leo Moura, Alvaro, Ronaldo Angelim, and Everton Silva (Leo Medeiros or Jorbison); Toró, Fernando, Kleberson, Fierro (Vinícius Pacheco); Bruno Mezenga (Adriano), and Vagner Love (Erick Flores).