Worth much more than the three points
Flamengo and Ceará play a match surrounded by anticipation this Saturday afternoon at Maracanã
By From the team at Flamengo's official website - in
Flamengo and Ceará have rarely faced each other in history: only 15 times. Perhaps for this reason, this duel isn't considered a great classic in Brazilian football. However, for Flamengo and Ceará, this Saturday's match (August 14.08th), at 18:30 pm, at Maracanã, is like a championship final. On one side, Flamengo, which has scored only two goals since the World Cup and hasn't won in four games. On the other, Ceará, third place, has the best defense in the competition, but has yet to win since the World Cup in South Africa.
With both teams needing a win, the expectation could only be for a great game. A Flamengo victory puts the team back in contention for a spot in the top four, after all, it would close the gap on third-place Ceará to one point. And coach Rogério Lourenço knows this well. The Flamengo manager is keen to emphasize the opponent's qualities, but warns: Flamengo will do everything it can to secure the victory.
"Ceará isn't in a good moment, but they have 21 points and the best defense in the league. They're a strong team that will put up a fight. The players and the fans need to be patient. It won't be an easy game, we know that, but we'll go for the win," he said.
Ceará native Ronaldo Angelim will play his first match against the Fortaleza team wearing a Flamengo jersey. The last meeting between the teams was in 2005, and despite not being present on that occasion, Angelim knows this Saturday afternoon's opponent well. The defender has already stated that he enjoys analyzing Flamengo's opponents in the Brasileirão.
"I know their team. They're very strong in defense, they mark very well, and they counterattack. I believe that's their style of play here at Maracanã, and it's going to be a very tough game for us," he noted.
Long-awaited premieres - Without any mysteries, Flamengo has already confirmed three new players for the match: Jean, suspended, will be replaced by Welinton, while Renato Abreu, who will be honored by the red-black mascots, and Leandro Amaral will make their debuts in the starting lineup in place of Kleberson and Cristian Borja.
"I can't wait to see the fans again at Maracanã and play this, my first game back at Flamengo. I hope everything goes well and we come away with the victory," added Renato.
Ceará will be making its debut for coach Mario Sérgio and goalkeeper Diego will be reunited with his former club. Additionally, the team will be missing four players: Misael, who is experiencing pain in his right knee, Careca, who is suspended, and Erick Flores, who will be unable to play due to his contract with the Rio de Janeiro club. Newly signed Magno Alves is still working on his form and did not travel with the delegation to Rio de Janeiro.
TECHNICAL SHEET
FLAMENGO X CEARÁ
Stadium: Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro (RJ)
Date/Time: 14/8/2010 - 18:30 PM (Brasília time)
Referee: Wagner Reway/MT
Auxiliaries: Emerson Augusto de Carvalo/ SP (FIFA) and Carlos Berkenbrock /SC (FIFA)
FLAMENGO: Marcelo Lomba; Leonardo Moura, Wellinton, Ronaldo Angelim, Juan; Correa, Willians, Petkovic and Renato Abreu; Leandro Amaral and Val Baiano. Technical: Rogerio Lourenço.
CEARÁ: Diego; Oziel, Anderson, Fabrício and Ernandes; Heleno, Michel, João Marcos and Geraldo; Washington and Tony. Technical: Mario Sergio.
With both teams needing a win, the expectation could only be for a great game. A Flamengo victory puts the team back in contention for a spot in the top four, after all, it would close the gap on third-place Ceará to one point. And coach Rogério Lourenço knows this well. The Flamengo manager is keen to emphasize the opponent's qualities, but warns: Flamengo will do everything it can to secure the victory.
"Ceará isn't in a good moment, but they have 21 points and the best defense in the league. They're a strong team that will put up a fight. The players and the fans need to be patient. It won't be an easy game, we know that, but we'll go for the win," he said.
Ceará native Ronaldo Angelim will play his first match against the Fortaleza team wearing a Flamengo jersey. The last meeting between the teams was in 2005, and despite not being present on that occasion, Angelim knows this Saturday afternoon's opponent well. The defender has already stated that he enjoys analyzing Flamengo's opponents in the Brasileirão.
"I know their team. They're very strong in defense, they mark very well, and they counterattack. I believe that's their style of play here at Maracanã, and it's going to be a very tough game for us," he noted.
Long-awaited premieres - Without any mysteries, Flamengo has already confirmed three new players for the match: Jean, suspended, will be replaced by Welinton, while Renato Abreu, who will be honored by the red-black mascots, and Leandro Amaral will make their debuts in the starting lineup in place of Kleberson and Cristian Borja.
"I can't wait to see the fans again at Maracanã and play this, my first game back at Flamengo. I hope everything goes well and we come away with the victory," added Renato.
Ceará will be making its debut for coach Mario Sérgio and goalkeeper Diego will be reunited with his former club. Additionally, the team will be missing four players: Misael, who is experiencing pain in his right knee, Careca, who is suspended, and Erick Flores, who will be unable to play due to his contract with the Rio de Janeiro club. Newly signed Magno Alves is still working on his form and did not travel with the delegation to Rio de Janeiro.
TECHNICAL SHEET
FLAMENGO X CEARÁ
Stadium: Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro (RJ)
Date/Time: 14/8/2010 - 18:30 PM (Brasília time)
Referee: Wagner Reway/MT
Auxiliaries: Emerson Augusto de Carvalo/ SP (FIFA) and Carlos Berkenbrock /SC (FIFA)
FLAMENGO: Marcelo Lomba; Leonardo Moura, Wellinton, Ronaldo Angelim, Juan; Correa, Willians, Petkovic and Renato Abreu; Leandro Amaral and Val Baiano. Technical: Rogerio Lourenço.
CEARÁ: Diego; Oziel, Anderson, Fabrício and Ernandes; Heleno, Michel, João Marcos and Geraldo; Washington and Tony. Technical: Mario Sergio.
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