Flamengo: 100 days unbeaten
Ronaldinho Gaúcho's team, currently second in the Brazilian Championship, hasn't lost a game since May 5th, when they lost to Ceará.
247_The year 2011 is proving to be special for Flamengo fans. After eight months of matches in the Campeonato Carioca, Copa do Brasil, and Brasileirão, only one defeat has marred the winning history of the Rio de Janeiro team, which won the state title. On May 5th, Flamengo lost 2-1 to Ceará in the Copa do Brasil quarterfinals, failed to reverse the result, and was eliminated from the competition. Since that fateful day, the team led by Vanderlei Luxemburgo has not known defeat. They have gone 100 days undefeated, a streak being celebrated by fans on Twitter with the hashtag #100diasinvicto.
In the Brazilian Championship, Flamengo played 15 times, winning nine and drawing six. With a 73% success rate and 33 points, the team has the same score as the leader Corinthians, who won one more game. During this run, they scored 28 goals and are the top scorer in the competition so far, with Ronaldinho Gaúcho. Beyond the numbers, Flamengo fans earned the symbolic title, alongside Santos, of the best game in Brazilian football in recent times. At Vila Belmiro, the 5-4 victory, with three goals from the number 10, crowned a special and spectacular night.
How long will this good run last? It's hard to say. This Sunday, the team faces Figueirense in Florianópolis, and this period of prosperity could end. "Who knows, right? The players are aware that football today is very competitive, but nobody knows what can happen. Even if we stumble, the work will continue in pursuit of our goal," says full-back Leo Moura.
Flamengo has not yet been without its main players due to injury or call-ups to the national team, unlike its direct competitors Corinthians and São Paulo. It's natural that, as the championship progresses, these two events could hinder the team. For Ronaldinho Gaúcho, the important thing is for the team to take one step at a time. “We will have the opportunity to take the lead in the Brazilian Championship. We will do our best on the field to get the victory and not let Corinthians get away again. The important thing is to be focused on the game,” said Ronaldinho.