🔊 Which team will secure their first victory at the Club World Cup? Bookmakers have made Fluminense the favorite. The Brazilian side certainly impressed in the opening round and are still eyeing the top spot in the group. Ulsan, on the other hand, were initially seen as the underdogs of the quartet. If they fail to pick up any points in the upcoming clash, their hopes of advancing to the playoffs could be dashed. This is the scenario as the teams head into their match at MetLife Stadium in New York.

Head-to-Head

📊 The opponents have not faced each other before.

Fluminense Team Overview

🟢 Fluminense have arrived at the Club World Cup right in the middle of their season, which certainly gives them an advantage. However, the team did take a two-week break from competitive action to prepare. Despite this, Fluminense are in good form, having secured five wins and two draws in their last seven matches.

🔗 Fluminense arguably delivered the most compelling football in Group F during the first round. They weren't considered favorites against Borussia Dortmund, yet they looked significantly better. At the very least, they posed more threats to the opponent's goal with 14 shots and created genuine scoring chances, only to be denied by the goalkeeper. The match ended in a goalless draw, a result that satisfied both teams from a tournament perspective.

🔝 A key player for Fluminense is Jhon Arias. He's been with the team since 2021 and hasn't had the best individual stats this season. Nevertheless, in Brazil's Serie A, he boasts an average rating of 7.4, highlighting his value as a player who regularly starts for the Colombian national team. In the match against Borussia Dortmund, he made an immediate impact by drawing a yellow card from an opponent. Arias repeatedly made runs down the right flank, often culminating in a shot or dangerous cross. In the second half, he switched to the left flank, where his influence waned. Nonetheless, FIFA named him the man of the match.

Ulsan Team Overview

🔵 Ulsan are having a tough season. They failed to advance past the group stage of the AFC Champions League, losing 6 out of 7 matches. Although they are the reigning K-League champions, retaining their title seems unlikely as they currently sit fourth, trailing the leaders by 12 points. In the domestic league, Ulsan struggle to score and concede in almost every game.

⚪️ The Korean side's issues are also evident in the Club World Cup. Ulsan ceded control to Mamelodi Sundowns in their opening match and conceded in the first half. They never managed to regain a foothold in the game, and in the second half, they only managed one shot on target. The match ended 0-1, a result that nearly extinguishes their hopes of reaching the playoffs, especially with stronger opponents ahead.

🔝 Ulsan's squad includes six foreign players. Among them, Erick Farias stands out, having scored 12 goals since the start of the season. He posed a threat against Mamelodi Sundowns, but the Brazilian failed to find the net, and his rating of 6.0 reflects an overall disappointing performance.

Latest news

Fluminense

🎙 Fluminense captain Thiago Silva believes his team should have defeated Borussia Dortmund: “I'm pleased with our performance. Considering the opportunities and chances we created, I feel we deserved a better result. Before the game, if we were offered a draw, I think all of us would have taken a 0-0 and a point. If there was to be a winner today, I believe it would have been Fluminense, given everything we created throughout the match.”

📝 Neymar (Santos) admitted he could have played in the Club World Cup for Fluminense: “Physically, I'm in good shape. I was in talks with several teams about participating in the Club World Cup. I was close to joining Fluminense but chose to stay and train a bit more.”

❌ In the upcoming match, Otavio will not play due to an injury sustained back in March. After playing for the Venezuelan national team, Yeferson Soteldo also finds himself sidelined.

Ulsan

✅ Ulsan are gearing up for the match with a full squad.

🟨 Referee and Yellow Cards

🟨 Referee and Yellow Cards

The match will be officiated by Michael Oliver from England. Highly regarded not only in the British Isles but also across Europe, Oliver's presence should ensure both teams are satisfied with the refereeing quality. This season, he has officiated 26 Premier League matches, averaging 4.46 yellow cards per game.

This season, Fluminense have the edge in yellow cards (2.3 compared to 2.1). Matches involving Ulsan average 3.9 cautions, while the Brazilian side sees even more with an average of 5. Considering the referee's statistics, it's worth looking at the total yellow cards over 3.5.

⚽️ Goal Prediction

Fluminense showed promise in attack against Borussia Dortmund, but their finishing let them down. The team struggles with this aspect, having failed to score more than two goals in 15 of their last 16 matches. Therefore, it makes sense to bet on Fluminense total goals under 2.5.

🚩 Corner Prediction

Both teams come into the match with strong trends in corners. Ulsan have seen at least four corners in 12 of their last 13 games, while Fluminense have had at least five in six of their last seven matches. This suggests a bet on total corners over 8.5.

Fluminense are the favorites for the upcoming clash. If they maintain the form they showed against Borussia Dortmund, success could be on the horizon for them in this match-up. A potential scoreline prediction is a 2-0 win for Fluminense.

Fluminense rarely score more than two goals, and Ulsan also struggle in attack. Considering only one goal was scored in Group F's first round, it's reasonable to expect a low-scoring affair here as well. Therefore, our key bet recommendation is on total goals under 3.