Of course, numbers don't win games, but they serve as a basis for a good analysis of the football Flamengo has been playing since its run to the national title at the end of last year. The Rubro-Negro's last loss was on October 28, 2009, 2-0, to Barueri, away from home. And before that, the team had already gone 11 games unbeaten, having lost only to Avaí, 3-0, in Santa Catarina, on August 23. In other words, of its last 25 games, Flamengo has lost only one.

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The team boasts the longest winning streak among Brazilian first division clubs: 13. In 2010, coach Andrade's team is undefeated, winning six games and drawing only one in seven. The record against next Wednesday's opponent is also encouraging. The Red-Blacks haven't lost to Botafogo since April 13, 2008. Since then, there have been ten more matches, with five wins for the Gávea team and five draws.

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Coach Andrade, however, emphasizes that none of this applies to the teams in the Guanabara Cup semifinals. Not even the three Rio de Janeiro state titles and two first-round titles won by Flamengo over their rivals from General Severiano over the past three years.

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"The numbers are good to analyze, but they don't matter on the field. The victories we've had don't mean anything for Wednesday's game. Botafogo is a different team, we're a different team, the timing of the game is different... I'm sure it will be a great game and there are no favorites," he analyzed.