Jan Novak
Dailysports's expert
In the third round of the Club World Cup group stage, Los Angeles will square off against Flamengo. The match is set to take place in Orlando in the early hours of Wednesday, June 25. Kick-off is scheduled for 03:00 Central European Time. I'm backing a bet on goals in this one.
Match preview
Los Angeles enjoyed a strong regular season in MLS last year, but their playoff run ended at the quarterfinal stage. They also exited the CONCACAF Champions League at the same point earlier this year, losing to Inter Miami over two legs.
This season, the team struggled out of the gate, but after a string of disappointing matches, they managed to steady the ship and improve their results. By midseason, Steve Cherundolo's men found themselves in fifth place in their conference standings.
Los Angeles booked their Club World Cup ticket via a playoff clash with Mexican side Club América. The Californians snatched victory only in extra time, but since then, luck has deserted them.
Two defeats have turned their final group game into a mere formality. While a loss to Chelsea was no surprise, the setback against Espérance came as a real shock.
Flamengo have been a force on the international scene in recent years, lifting the Copa Libertadores—the top club prize in South America—twice in the last six seasons.
Their quest for another continental crown resumes in mid-August with a round of 16 clash against Internacional, but for now the "Rubro-Negro" are turning heads at the Club World Cup.
In their opening game, Flamengo took care of business with three points against Tunisia’s Espérance, but it was their next outing that truly stunned observers. Trailing 0-1 to English giants Chelsea with an hour gone, the Brazilians flipped the script and celebrated a famous win thanks to goals from Bruno Henrique, Danilo, and Vellas.
Against Los Angeles, Filipe Luís may opt to rotate his squad and rest key players ahead of the knockout phase, with Flamengo having already clinched top spot in their group. It's also worth highlighting their defensive solidity: in 11 Brazilian Série A matches, they've conceded just four goals and sit atop the standings.
Match facts
- Los Angeles have conceded in six consecutive matches.
- Flamengo are riding a six-game winning streak.
- Los Angeles average 1.2 goals per game, while Flamengo average 2.6 goals per game.
Probable line-ups
- Los Angeles: Lloris, Palencia, Long, Segura, Eboa, Igor Jesus, Tillman, Delgado, Martinez, Bouanga, Giroud.
- Flamengo: Rossi, Wesley, Danilo, Leo Pereira, Lucas, Pulgar, Jorginho, De Arrascaeta, Luiz Araújo, Gerson, Plata.
H2H
The teams have never met before.
Prediction
This match promises to be entertaining and high-scoring, especially if Los Angeles set a fast tempo and Flamengo stay switched on. The American side will be eager to exit with a bang, having lost all hope of progressing. The Brazilians, meanwhile, have already secured top spot, but are unlikely to simply hand over the points. While this is a match for pride only, a bet on both teams to score looks well justified.
