Trial by fire before decision
Flamengo faces Vitória, and a positive result could serve as motivation in the Libertadores
By From the team at Flamengo's official website - in
SALVADOR - Flamengo takes the field this Saturday at 18:30 p.m. at Barradão to face Vitória in the second round of the Brazilian Championship. However, there will be much more to this match than just three points. Coming off a poor result in the Libertadores, and increasingly seeking motivation to reverse that result next Thursday against Universidad de Chile in Santiago, the team from Gávea is thinking of no other result than victory in Bahia.
Striker Vagner Love believes this match serves as a great test for the team before the decisive match against La U. The Love Gunner guarantees that the team will have the same attitude at Barradão as it did at Santa Laura Stadium.
"Let's think about playing the game against La U tomorrow. We have to have the same desire and mindset as on Thursday. We'll go in with determination, attention, and composure, and try to get a result, also thinking about the Libertadores, which is our goal. Everyone is excited, and a good result tomorrow will give us even more motivation to go to Chile in search of the two goals we need," he said.
Flamengo's number 9 believes that a win against Vitória will only do the team good, not only because it's on the eve of the match against Universidad, but also because it will help the team maintain its unbeaten run in the Brazilian Championship.
"We were shaken, yes, but now we have to get back on track. It's good to start tomorrow. We're confident, wanting to play well, and we'll definitely achieve great results. These are different competitions and we have big goals. It's a game to build our confidence and go to Chile thinking about qualifying," he explained.
Maximum strength
Just as Flamengo is focused on the Libertadores, Vitória also has a crucial game in the middle of the week. The Bahia team hosts Atlético-GO in the Copa do Brasil semifinal, and therefore, they're expected to rest some starters against Flamengo. Coach Rogério Lourenço, for his part, will go with full strength for the match.
"We know they're fighting for a spot in the Copa do Brasil, but now is the time for Flamengo to be strong, regardless of the opponent or what lies ahead. Given the quality of this group, they can make a difficult game easy, without underestimating any opponent," said the coach, who explained the decision not to rest any players.
"It had already been planned that everyone would play. There's a long gap between the two games, and five players had the day off last Sunday and didn't play against São Paulo. We had already decided that we would go to Bahia with the starters," he added.
TECHNICAL SHEET
VICTORY X FLAMENGO
Stadium: Barradão, Salvador (BA)
Date/Time: 15/5/2010 - 18:30 PM
Referee: Paulo Cesar Oliveira (SP) FIFA
Assistants: Marcio Luiz Augusto (SP) and Vicente Romano Neto (SP)
VICTORY: Viafara, Léo, Vilson, Reniê and Maurim; Vanderson, Rafael Cruz, Uelliton and Renato; Júnior and Elkeson. Coach: Ricardo Silva.
FLAMENGO: Bruno; Léo Moura, David, Ronaldo Angelim and Juan; Toró, Willians, Kleberson and Michael; Vagner Love and Adriano. Coach: Rogério Lourenço.
Striker Vagner Love believes this match serves as a great test for the team before the decisive match against La U. The Love Gunner guarantees that the team will have the same attitude at Barradão as it did at Santa Laura Stadium.
"Let's think about playing the game against La U tomorrow. We have to have the same desire and mindset as on Thursday. We'll go in with determination, attention, and composure, and try to get a result, also thinking about the Libertadores, which is our goal. Everyone is excited, and a good result tomorrow will give us even more motivation to go to Chile in search of the two goals we need," he said.
Flamengo's number 9 believes that a win against Vitória will only do the team good, not only because it's on the eve of the match against Universidad, but also because it will help the team maintain its unbeaten run in the Brazilian Championship.
"We were shaken, yes, but now we have to get back on track. It's good to start tomorrow. We're confident, wanting to play well, and we'll definitely achieve great results. These are different competitions and we have big goals. It's a game to build our confidence and go to Chile thinking about qualifying," he explained.
Maximum strength
Just as Flamengo is focused on the Libertadores, Vitória also has a crucial game in the middle of the week. The Bahia team hosts Atlético-GO in the Copa do Brasil semifinal, and therefore, they're expected to rest some starters against Flamengo. Coach Rogério Lourenço, for his part, will go with full strength for the match.
"We know they're fighting for a spot in the Copa do Brasil, but now is the time for Flamengo to be strong, regardless of the opponent or what lies ahead. Given the quality of this group, they can make a difficult game easy, without underestimating any opponent," said the coach, who explained the decision not to rest any players.
"It had already been planned that everyone would play. There's a long gap between the two games, and five players had the day off last Sunday and didn't play against São Paulo. We had already decided that we would go to Bahia with the starters," he added.
TECHNICAL SHEET
VICTORY X FLAMENGO
Stadium: Barradão, Salvador (BA)
Date/Time: 15/5/2010 - 18:30 PM
Referee: Paulo Cesar Oliveira (SP) FIFA
Assistants: Marcio Luiz Augusto (SP) and Vicente Romano Neto (SP)
VICTORY: Viafara, Léo, Vilson, Reniê and Maurim; Vanderson, Rafael Cruz, Uelliton and Renato; Júnior and Elkeson. Coach: Ricardo Silva.
FLAMENGO: Bruno; Léo Moura, David, Ronaldo Angelim and Juan; Toró, Willians, Kleberson and Michael; Vagner Love and Adriano. Coach: Rogério Lourenço.