📢 What can we expect from the Los Angeles vs Flamengo clash in the third round of the Club World Cup? The upcoming match will take place in Orlando and holds no tournament significance for either team. Los Angeles have already lost their chance to advance to the playoffs, while Flamengo have secured the top spot in the group. The focus may shift from results to the coaches' desire to rest key players and rotate the squad. Despite the lack of motivation, the match remains significant for both clubs' reputations. Fans can only hope that the teams won't play at half-speed and will deliver an exciting display of football.

Head-to-Head

📊 Los Angeles and Flamengo have not faced each other in official matches before. 

Los Angeles Team Overview

⚫ Los Angeles found themselves at the Club World Cup at the last minute, taking the place of Mexico's Leon, but they struggled to meet the tournament's standards. The team lost both of their opening matches—first a 0-2 defeat against Chelsea, which could be attributed to the higher caliber of their opponent, and then a 0-1 loss to Esperance, which was a much bigger setback. On home soil, the American club were considered favorites in the encounter but looked unconvincing and created far fewer chances than their opponents. In the 90+11th minute, Los Angeles had a chance to salvage the match with a penalty, but Denis Bouanga failed to convert it. Even if they had managed a draw, their chances of advancing to the playoffs would have been slim, but this defeat completely closed the door on progressing to the next stage of the tournament.

Flamengo Team Overview

🔴 Who could have imagined that Flamengo, with one match remaining in the group stage, would not only secure a spot in the playoffs but also clinch the top spot in their group? The team delivered an outstanding level of play in both matches: first, they comfortably defeated Esperance (2-0), and then surprised many with a win over Chelsea (3-1), where they were considered the underdogs. Despite a costly mistake that allowed Pedro Neto to score, Flamengo not only held their ground but took control, completely outplaying their opponent and creating chances worth 3.03 xG. The team prevented the Londoners from finding their rhythm and deservedly took all three points. Now, ahead of the final match, it's important to consider that the lineup might undergo rotation (although FIFA regulations require clubs to field their strongest team).

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Los Angeles

📣 After their defeat to Esperance, representatives of Los Angeles acknowledged that they struggled with the tournament's level. Head coach Steve Cherundolo admitted the team did not have their best second half: "Our performance, both individually and as a team, in the second half was not good enough to win the Club World Cup. The standard here is very high. Mistakes in play do not go unpunished – and that's exactly what happened." Defender Sergi Palencia also conceded that the team did not showcase their best football: "Today, we certainly didn't display the level needed for matches against such opponents. In tournaments like this, every moment counts – losing concentration even for a second leads to punishment. This is an important lesson for us – we need to learn from it and apply it in MLS and the CONCACAF Champions League. It's a valuable experience for the entire team."

🚫 Los Angeles approach their next match with almost a full squad – all key players are available. The only one definitely out is Nathan Ordaz, who suffered a concussion in the first round against Chelsea and was substituted in the first half.

Flamengo

📣 Flamengo's head coach Filipe Luis couldn't hide his satisfaction with the result and highlighted the unique spirit of South American teams, who often face challenges against European powerhouses: "I am very pleased with this game. From the start, we believed we had a shot. I am well aware of the level of European clubs—especially those elite few, no more than twelve worldwide. That's why such results are surprising. Additionally, they're not too accustomed to the hot and humid climate. South American teams are incredibly competitive—winning the Copa Libertadores is incredibly tough, and it's not always the strongest team that comes out on top."

🚫 Flamengo head into the upcoming clash with a nearly full-strength squad—almost all registered players are ready to take the field. The only exception remains Nicolas De La Cruz, who is still recovering from a knee dislocation and remains doubtful, even though it was initially expected he would return by the first round. Now, his participation in the third match is also not guaranteed.

⚽️ Goal Prediction

⚽️ Goal Prediction

Los Angeles have been underwhelming in attack during this Club World Cup, failing to score in both of their matches. Even against Esperance, the Americans couldn't seriously challenge the opponent's defense, slightly edging them in xG (1.38 to 1.16) only due to a missed penalty. Moreover, Flamengo went four games without conceding before facing Chelsea, highlighting their defensive reliability. Therefore, we predict both teams to score (no).

🚩 Corner Prediction

The number of corners taken further emphasizes Los Angeles's lack of attacking activity. They managed just one corner against Chelsea and only two against Esperance. Considering Flamengo's disciplined defense, it's unlikely Los Angeles will change the situation and create numerous chances at the opponent's goal. Thus, we predict Los Angeles total corners under 4.5.