Obviously, the Clássico dos Milhões (Classic of Millions) next Sunday at Engenhão will not have, by any means, a crowd like that of April 4, 1976, when the masses of Flamengo and Vasco packed the Maracanã with 174.770 fans. This was the largest crowd in the history of this highly competitive duel, in a game that ended with a 1-0 victory for Flamengo in the Guanabara Cup final.

Even so, a large crowd is expected at the João Havelange Olympic Stadium. Therefore, Flamengo is counting on the support of its fans, who always make a difference for the team from Gávea, to seek three more points in the Brazilian Championship.

"Having the support of the fans is always good. We know that, in games against Vasco, they come in even greater numbers, and what I can ask is that this doesn't change, that they show up, support us, because on the field there will be no lack of will to win," said goalkeeper Marcelo Lomba.

A few years ago, Lomba was there, in the stands, cheering for Flamengo. Now, on the other side, he knows the difference the fans make and promises to do his best to keep a clean sheet and help the team achieve this victory.

"It's a different kind of classic, and the connection definitely weighs heavily in a moment like this. Playing a match like this, defending the club of your heart, is a feeling that's hard to even explain. I grew up at Flamengo, I've played against Vasco many times, in various categories, and I know what it's like," he concluded.

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It's worth remembering that this Sunday's match is the first between Flamengo and Vasco at the Engenhão stadium. The two teams have never faced each other at the stadium, where they are expected to play many more times before the Maracanã reopens.