🔊 Which team will advance to the Club World Cup playoffs? Mamelodi Sundowns sit in third place with three points, so the South African side needs nothing less than a victory. Fluminense, who are one point ahead, will be content with a draw. However, under certain circumstances, the South Americans could even win Group F. Therefore, they should pay attention to their goal difference. On our end, we'll evaluate various scenarios to make the most insightful prediction. It's worth noting that the match will take place at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.

Head-to-Head

📊 The opponents have not faced each other before.

Mamelodi Sundowns Team Overview

🟡 Mamelodi Sundowns are dominating South African football. Since the 2013/14 season, they've only missed out on the championship twice, with their last slip-up happening eight years ago. Ahead of the Club World Cup, the "Brazilians" secured six consecutive victories in the national league and reached the CAF Champions League final, although they weren't considered favorites in Group F.

🟢 The key match was against Ulsan in the opening round. Mamelodi Sundowns had the upper hand, which was reflected in the final score (1-0). Despite holding possession for about 70% of the game, their opponents managed to create just as many dangerous chances. The "Brazilians" played boldly against Borussia Dortmund. The German side performed better overall, but a lapse in concentration at the end allowed Mamelodi Sundowns to avoid a heavy defeat (3-4).

🔝 In the current tournament, two players stand out for Mamelodi Sundowns. Iqraam Rayners is the team's top scorer, having netted against both Ulsan and Borussia Dortmund. Notably, two of his goals in the first match were disallowed after video review. The second standout player is Lucas Ribeiro. He provided the assist for Rayners' goal against Ulsan and scored himself in the clash with Borussia Dortmund.

Fluminense Team Overview

🔴 South American teams have been performing well at the Club World Cup, and Fluminense are no exception. Initially, the club were considered the second strongest in Group F. Captain Thiago Silva even admitted that a draw against Borussia Dortmund in the opening match would have been satisfactory for the South Americans. However, the game unfolded in such a way that they might regret not securing a win (0-0). Fluminense indeed played better and created enough chances to score, while their opponents barely threatened the goal.

🟢 Renato Gaúcho made significant rotations for the match against Ulsan, altering nearly half of the starting lineup. Partly because of this, Fluminense had to come from behind. The first half went Ulsan's way, although the Brazilian side looked stronger. However, after the break, everything fell into place—the "Tricolor" claimed a convincing 4-2 victory. They currently boast the best goal difference, which allows them to lead the group heading into the third round.

🔝 Fluminense's standout player is Jhon Arias. At least in two matches of the Club World Cup, fans voted him as the best. In the game against Borussia Dortmund, the Colombian national team player shone particularly in the first half, consistently creating danger from the right flank. Arias confirmed his bright form with impactful performances against Ulsan. He scored Fluminense's first goal and assisted a teammate to seal the final score in stoppage time.

Latest news

Mamelodi Sundowns

🎙 Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso shared his thoughts after the defeat to Borussia Dortmund: "I believe it's significant, especially for the people in South Africa, what we accomplished today. It was a tough match. Good game, quality football. At times, we outplayed Dortmund, and they had to defend."

❌ Mamelodi Sundowns have only one absentee — Siyanda Nyanga, who did not participate in the tournament.

Fluminense

🎙 Fluminense goalkeeper Fabio shared how they managed to outplay Ulsan: “I’m happy and grateful that we achieved such a great result. We were able to come from behind. Ulsan are a quality side. We found ourselves in a very tough situation, but thanks to our tremendous dedication, commitment, and respect, fighting on the field and honoring the Fluminense colors, we secured the victory.”

❌ The injury list still includes Yeferson Soteldo, Otavio, as well as the seldom-used 18-year-olds Isaque Silva and Riquelme Felipe.

🟨 Referee and Yellow Cards

🟨 Referee and Yellow Cards

The referee for this match is Anthony Taylor from England. This season, he averages 3.44 yellow cards across all competitions. At the Club World Cup, the Englishman officiated the Palmeiras vs. Al-Ahly game, which was full of fouls (30 in total), and he handed out seven yellow cards.

Fluminense have the edge in terms of yellow cards (2.3 compared to 1.8). Matches involving them average around five bookings. However, in the current tournament, no game has seen more than four yellow cards. The same applies to Mamelodi Sundowns. Therefore, it's worth considering the total yellow cards under 4.5.

⚽️ Goal Prediction

Mamelodi Sundowns have found the net in 11 consecutive matches. At the Club World Cup, the South African team scored against both Ulsan and Borussia Dortmund—something Fluminense couldn't manage. It's reasonable to predict that Mamelodi Sundowns will score.

🚩 Corner Prediction

Fluminense look like the strongest side in Group F. The team tends to take a lot of shots on goal, inevitably leading to corners. In the current tournament, they've had at least seven corners in every match. Thus, betting on Fluminense over 4.5 corners seems justified, especially as this has happened in 7 of their last 8 matches.

Fluminense are the favorites heading into the upcoming match, and they only need a draw to advance to the playoffs. However, the team will be aiming for victory and is unlikely to let their guard down in the closing stages, unlike Borussia Dortmund in the second round. Therefore, the South Americans are expected to secure a convincing win, possibly with a scoreline of 3-1.

Despite leading the group, Fluminense's odds for a win are relatively high. The Brazilian side has looked impressive in all their matches and came close to defeating Borussia Dortmund. It's likely they will create even more chances in the upcoming game, and eventually, quantity should turn into quality. Thus, our key bet is on a Fluminense victory.