Manchester City vs Fluminense prediction: WORLD: FIFA Club World Cup betting tips on match 2023-12-21 18:00.
Manchester City booked their spot in the FIFA Club World Cup (FCWC) final by beating Urawa Red Diamonds 3-0 on Tuesday – their third victory in four games (D1). That continued the Citizens’ formidable tournament record, as they have won 17 of their last 22 games in cup competitions (D3, L2), lifting three trophies during that time.
Given their poor form in the league (W1, D4, L1), some supporters had questioned just how much importance Pep Guardiola’s men would place on this tournament, but the manager has left people in no doubt about where his priorities lie, branding Friday’s clash with Fluminense a once “in-our-lifetime” fixture. He is therefore poised to name a strong starting line-up as City attempt to write themselves into the history books by becoming the first English side to hold the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and FCWC titles at the same time.
It has already been a dream 2023 for Fluminense, who last month were crowned Copa Libertadores champions for the first time after a dramatic extra-time triumph over Boca Juniors. Flash forward seven weeks, and the Brazilian club are potentially 90 minutes away from adding the FCWC to their trophy haul, having reached the final with a 2-0 defeat of Egyptian side Al Ahly.
That was a fourth victory in six matches (L2) for the team from Rio de Janeiro, and head coach Fernando Diniz, who is also interim boss of Brazil, praised evergreen pair Marcelo and Felipe Melo for “controlling” the game. He will be hoping they can use all their trophy-winning experience from their days in Europe at the likes of Real Madrid and Galatasaray, as Fluminense target what would be another famous victory and a fourth trophy of the calendar year.
Key battle: Left-back Marcelo has never lost a H2H (W2, D1), keeping two clean sheets in the process. He may come up against striker Julián Álvarez, who has only lost one of the last 21 matches in which he has scored for City (W20).
Hot stat: Fluminense have conceded only twice after half-time across their last eight games.