In Rio de Janeiro, everyone's talking about the Campeonato Carioca classics. Especially after Vasco's 6-0 thrashing of Botafogo last Sunday at the Engenhão stadium. The result raised expectations for a big game next Sunday at 19:30 PM at the Maracanã stadium, when Flamengo will face Fluminense. However, in Gávea, no one is thinking about the classic. At least not yet. After all, the red-and-blacks still have another challenge: the Americano match, coming up at 19:30 PM at the Maracanã stadium.

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Coach Andrade has already named his lineup for the match. According to him, there are no secrets at Flamengo, and so the team will take the field with its traditional lineup: Bruno, Leo Moura, Alvaro, Ronaldo Angelim, and Juan; Toró, Fernando, Kleberson, and Petkovic; Vagner Love and Adriano. The main changes are the return of Juan, who was suspended, and Petkovic, making his first starting debut in 2010. For the Flamengo manager, this match is crucial for Flamengo's hopes in the competition.

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"It's a dangerous game for Flamengo. Americano isn't doing well, they want to bounce back in the competition, and they won't lose often. We have to be careful that they don't get a positive result against our team. We have to keep the warning lights on to avoid a slip-up. Against these teams considered small, you can't drop a point, even to gain some morale for Sunday's game," he observed.

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Right-back Leonardo Moura also understands the importance of a derby. For him, a positive result against a major rival can give the team a boost. However, he emphasizes that Flamengo still has one match before the clash against Fluminense, which will also be important for strengthening the red-and-black team, which has been gradually gaining momentum in 2010.

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"A derby win always boosts morale for the rest of the Championship. The team gains confidence, especially since there are two strong teams in each group, and I believe that by playing well and winning the derby, we'll be in good shape for the final stretch of the Championship. The team is still finding its feet. Some players are coming in, like myself, Adriano, and Love, who only came on in the last game, so the team is getting stronger as the games go by. We have a game before the derby to get everyone at 100% to start strong against Fluminense," he explained.

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New clothes - In addition to the new additions to the team, Flamengo will also take to the field in new uniforms. In an extraordinary meeting held Tuesday night in the main hall of the club's headquarters in Gávea, Flamengo's Deliberative Council approved the club's new sponsorship contract, and the Batavo brand will debut on the jersey for this Wednesday's game at 19:30 p.m., when Flamengo hosts Americano de Campos at Maracanã.

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Reinforcements in the Opponent - Flamengo has agreed to loan three players to their opponents at the Maracanã tonight, Americano. Youngsters Antônio (defensive midfielder), William Amendoim (midfielder), and Paulo Sérgio (forward) have signed with the Campos-based team until the end of the Campeonato Carioca. Last year, William Amendoim was part of the Macaé squad, which also competes in the state championship. Paulo Sérgio played in the Série B of the Brazilian Championship for Figueirense, from Santa Catarina.

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TECHNICAL SHEET
FLAMENGO X AMERICANO
4th Round of the 2010 Carioca Championship

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Stadium: Maracana
Order date: 27/01/2010
Open Hours: 19:30

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Referee: William Marcelo de Souza Nery
Auxiliary 1: Hilton Moutinho Rodrigues
Auxiliary 2: Luiz Felipe Scofield Guerra Costa

FLAMENGO: Bruno, Leo Moura, Alvaro, Ronaldo Angelim and Juan; Toró, Fernando, Kleberson and Petkovic; Vagner Love and Adriano. Coach: Andrade.
AMERICAN: Fred; Alex, João Carlos, Nirley and Rafinha; Leandro Leitte, Paulo Henrique, Leandro Senna (Zambi) and Diego Salles; Marcos Vinicius and Itacaré (Ruan).