By Georgia Grimond, Senior Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Flamengo fans broke the record for the number of tickets sold ahead of a game in the 2015 Campeonato Brasileiro, or Brazilian national football tournament, yesterday (September 16th). Supporters bought 67,000 tickets to see the team play against Coritiba at the Mané Garrincha stadium in Brasília at 9PM today.
The record was previously held by São Paulo. When they played Coritiba in the same game at the same stadium in June they drew a crowd of 59,612 fans who saw them win 3-1.
Flamengo’s popularity away from home has been inspired by a number of recent victories. The team has had six straight wins giving them 41 points and leaving them tied with São Paulo and Palmeiras for the last place on in the G-4 team. With 27 points, however, Coritiba is facing relegation.
“It is an important mobilization. The resurgence of Flamengo in the Brasileiro is key and enhances the competition. The important thing is that the the team remains unchanged in the surroundings and all this helps us to win,” coach Oswaldo de Oliveira told Folha de São Paulo.
Corinthians leads the Série A table with 54 points, followed by Atlético (49) and Grêmio (48). Flamengo will take on Atlético, from Belo Horizonte, on Sunday, September 20th at 4PM.
Following the ticket sales for tonight’s match, Flamengo now has the best average attendance. The team, which is based in Gávea in the Zone Sul (South Zone) of Rio but calls the Maracanã home, is Brazil’s most popular football team and is one of only five teams to have never been relegated to the second division.
Fellow Carioca team Fluminense lost 4-1 to Palmeiras on Wednesday night at the Maracanã stadium. The result leaves them eleventh in the competition with 34 points.