Miguel Solomons
Dailysports's expert
On Wednesday, June 25, the final match of the Club World Cup group stage will take place, featuring Mamelodi Sundowns against Fluminense. Kick-off is at 21:00 Central European Time. Here is our preview and prediction for this crucial encounter.
Mamelodi Sundowns vs Fluminense: match preview
Mamelodi Sundowns and Fluminense are set to battle for a coveted spot in the playoffs. The South African side started strong, clinching victory in their opening match against Ulsan Hyundai. In a tightly contested affair, Sundowns capitalized on their chance to net the only goal of the game, sealing three crucial points. Their second outing saw them face Borussia Dortmund. Despite trailing 1-4, Mamelodi mounted a spirited comeback, narrowing the deficit to just one goal, but ultimately ran out of time and suffered a 3-4 defeat.
Fluminense opened their campaign with a goalless draw against Borussia Dortmund—a fair result given the flow of play and scarcity of clear-cut chances. In their second match, the Brazilians pulled off a vital and hard-fought win. Trailing Ulsan 1-2 at halftime, Fluminense rallied after the break, scoring three times to secure a 4-2 victory.
After two rounds, Mamelodi Sundowns sit third in the group with three points and a goal difference of 4:4. Fluminense lead the group with four points and a 4:2 goal difference, level on points with Borussia Dortmund. This means the outcome of this clash will be decisive in the race for a playoff berth.
Key facts and head-to-head
- Mamelodi Sundowns have scored at least once in 11 consecutive matches.
- Fluminense are unbeaten in their last eight games.
- Mamelodi Sundowns have only one win in their last four fixtures, with two defeats and one draw.
- This will be the first-ever meeting between Mamelodi Sundowns and Fluminense.
Probable lineups
- Mamelodi Sundowns: Williams — Modiba, Lebusa, Kekana, Mudau — Mokwena, Allende, Matthews, Sales, Ribeiro — Rainer
- Fluminense: Fabio — Rene, Freitas, Thiago Silva, Samuel Xavier — Martinelli, Thiago Santos, Gustavo — Serna, Everaldo, Arias
Prediction
Fluminense are considered favorites for this fixture, given the strength of their league and squad depth. However, Mamelodi Sundowns are unlikely to go down without a fight—their determination was on full display against Borussia Dortmund. My prediction: both teams to score. The odds for this outcome are 1.75.
