Flamengo RJ vs Al-Hilal prediction: WORLD: FIFA Club World Cup betting tips on match 2023-02-06 19:00.
The FIFA Club World Cup (CWC) may be seen as nothing more than a mid-season sideshow to many European football fans, but taking the trophy away from the continent that has won each of the last nine editions would be a sweet victory for South America. If Flamengo are to do just that and emulate the last CONMEBOL side to win the trophy (Corinthians 2012), they must first justify their favourites tag against Al-Hilal, their semi-final opponents in the 2019 edition.
Flamengo overcame a 1-0 half-time deficit to win 3-1 in that semi-final, but this could be more straightforward if recent form is anything to go by. Boss VĂtor Pereira has got the Scarlet-Blacks firing on all cylinders domestically with six straight unbeaten games (W4, D2) to start their Campeonato Carioca campaign while conceding just two goals, although they did lose a more meaningful recent Supercopa do Brasil against Palmeiras. Pereira will now hope for third time lucky, after he failed to beat Al-Hilal twice during a previous stint with Al-Ahli (D1, L1).
Playing in the second round could prove to be an advantage for Al-Hilal, who earned their place in this match after defeating Wydad Casablanca on penalties during an incendiary affair in which both teams were reduced to ten men. Despite knocking the host nation side out, Al-Hilal are expected to find themselves in yet another hostile atmosphere with masses of Flamengo supporters already in Tangier.
Never before has an AFC nation won the CWC, and both times that such sides have made the final, they ended up losing to likely finalists Real Madrid. A return of just one defeat in Al-Hilal’s 2022/23 Saudi Pro League campaign inspires hope of further progression though (W9, D5, L1), yet they must keep their discipline if they’re to do so after receiving four red cards across their last six CWC matches.
Players to watch: Flamengo’s Gabriel Barbosa booked his side’s ticket to this CWC by scoring the only goal in their 1-0 Copa Libertadores final win over Athletico-PR. For the Saudi side, Salem Al Dawsari has featured in every one of Al-Hilal’s CWC games and gave his side the lead inside 20 minutes in the only prior H2H.
Hot stat: Al-Hilal have kept just one clean sheet across their seven all-time CWC matches (W3, L4).