In 1992, when Flamengo won its last Brazilian Championship, Mocidade Independente de Padre Miguel took the Rio Carnival title with a samba-enredo titled "Sonhar Não Custa Nada (Ou Quase Nada)." Exactly 17 years later, the red-and-black team wants to make its dream of a sixth national championship a reality. Even without Adriano, coach Andrade's team faces Corinthians later today at 17 p.m. in Campinas, needing not only a win but also hoping for a stumble from São Paulo, also playing away against Goiás.

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While there's no price on dreams, Flamengo's players continue to believe their dream is very real. Emperor Adriano, for example, is out of this Sunday's match in the interior of São Paulo, but he still trusts his teammates will do their best and fight for the title until the very end. After all, against all expectations, the group got to where it is. Now, making the dream a reality is just the next step.

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"The championship doesn't end this Sunday. Only the next. Flamengo has a group that knows what it wants. Our team came in much higher (than expected). No one imagined that the team would fight for the title, only reach the G-4," said the number 10.

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However, coach Andrade doesn't want excitement or euphoria. The anxiety of taking the lead with one round remaining in the championship could get in the way, as happened against Goiás. Furthermore, the team is already vaccinated and doesn't believe that Corinthians, despite being considered a Flamengo rival, will join in the magic and the red-and-black carnival. Not even the fact that the São Paulo team is no longer competing in the championship and the possibility of another title for rival São Paulo make Flamengo fans believe in an easy match.

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"Corinthians will go in to win, regardless of whether it will help any rival, Palmeiras, or São Paulo. We have to do our part. It's hard not to think about the other games, but we can't just be cheering. Last Sunday was like that. São Paulo stumbled against Botafogo, and we didn't do our part. I'm not even thinking about a draw. We're leaving Rio thinking about doing our part there in Campinas and hoping that Goiás does theirs too," said Toró.

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Adriano's replacement, by all accounts, would be the young Bruno Mezenga. However, to avoid placing too much responsibility on the youngster, Andrade is still considering fielding Gil or Denis Marques. This is the only question mark in the Gávea team, which currently has Bruno, Leo Moura, Álvaro, Ronaldo Angelim, and Juan; Airton, Toró, Willians, and Petkovic; Zé Roberto and Bruno Mezenga (Denis Marques or Gil) to make the nation smile, in black and red, turning the Maracanã into a Sapucaí.

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CREDITS:
CORINTHIANS X FLAMENGO

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Stadium: Golden Earring, Campinas (SP)
Date/time: 29/11/2009 - 17:XNUMX PM (Brasília time)
Referee: Evandro Rogério Roman (Fifa-PR)
Assistants: Alessandro Álvaro Rocha de Matos (Fifa-BA) and Altemir Hausmann (Fifa-RS)

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CORINTHIANS: Felipe, Marcelinho (Boquita), Chicão, Paulo André and Escudero (M. Oliveira); Jucilei, Edu and Elias; Defederico, Jorge Henrique and Ronaldo. Coach: Mano Menezes.

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FLAMENGO: Bruno, Leo Moura, Alvaro, Ronaldo Angelim and Juan; Aírton, Toró, Willians and Petkovic; Ze Roberto and Bruno Mezenga. Coach: Andrade.