

On Tuesday, June 17, in the opening round of the Club World Cup group stage, Borussia Dortmund and Fluminense will clash in East Rutherford. I'm backing a bet on goals in this match.
Key facts and head-to-head history
- Borussia Dortmund have won six matches in a row.
- Fluminense are unbeaten in their last six games.
- This is only the second time in history Borussia Dortmund will face a club from Brazil.
- These teams have never played each other before.
Match preview
Fluminense arrived in the USA as the reigning Copa Libertadores 2023 champions. The club claimed the continental crown for the first time in its history, but then endured a highly inconsistent season in Serie A. However, Fluminense have looked like a different team this new campaign, currently sitting sixth in the Brazilian league table, just four points off the top spot.
Leading up to the Club World Cup, Fluminense managed an away win over Internacional (2-0), previously defeated Once Caldas (2-0) in the Copa Sudamericana, and also took care of Vasco da Gama at home (2-1). Fluminense's last loss came back on May 11, falling 1-2 to Atletico Mineiro.
A year ago, Borussia Dortmund played in the Champions League final, where they lost to Real Madrid (0-2). That performance earned them a spot at the Club World Cup as one of Europe's highest-ranked teams.
Last season was a tough slog for Borussia Dortmund. For much of the campaign, they languished mid-table and even risked missing out on European competition. But the appointment of Niko Kovac as head coach turned things around dramatically. Under the Croatian, Dortmund strung together a stunning run of six straight wins at the business end of the season, ultimately clinching fourth place.
Ahead of the Club World Cup, Borussia Dortmund made just one major signing — central midfielder Jobe Bellingham, who arrived from Sunderland.
Probable lineups
- Fluminense: Fabio; Xavier, Silva, Freitas, Rene; Nonato, Santos, Martinelli; Arias, Everaldo, Serna
- Borussia Dortmund: Kobel; Süle, Anton, Bensebaini; Ryerson, Sabitzer, Nmecha, Svensson; Brandt, Adeyemi; Guirassy
Fluminense vs Borussia Dortmund match prediction
Both Fluminense and Borussia Dortmund are attack-minded sides, but they also struggle defensively. I'm betting that both teams will score in this clash.