Two teams that caused major upsets in the previous round of 16 will face off in the quarterfinals of the Club World Cup on Friday. Fluminense secured their spot by defeating Inter 2-0, while Simone Inzaghi`s Al-Hilal delivered a major surprise by winning 4-3 against Manchester City. As these two surprising qualifiers kick off the quarterfinal stage, one is guaranteed a place in the tournament`s top four and will advance to meet the winner of the tie between Chelsea and Palmeiras, scheduled for later the same evening.
Match Information
Date and Time: Friday, July 4, 3 p.m. ET
Location: Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Florida
Betting Odds: Fluminense +180, Draw +230, Al-Hilal +150
Possible Lineups
Fluminense XI: Fabio; Xavier, Silva, Freytes, Rene; Hercules, Martinelli; Arias, Nonato, Canobbio; Everaldo.
Al-Hilal XI: Bono; Cancelo, Tambakti, Koulibaly, Lodi; Neves, Kanno; Malcom, Milinkovic-Savic, Al-Dawsari; Leonardo.
Key Player to Watch
Yassine Bounou (Bono), Al-Hilal — The Moroccan goalkeeper was phenomenal in Al-Hilal`s upset victory against Manchester City in the round of 16. He made several crucial saves throughout the match, proving vital to the Saudi team`s unexpected progress. If Simone Inzaghi`s side is to reach the top four, a significant part will depend on the continued stellar performances of their goalkeeper.
Key Narrative to Watch
Can Inzaghi make further history? The Italian coach joined Al-Hilal before the start of the Club World Cup and has already made an immediate impact, guiding the team to a surprising 4-3 win over Pep Guardiola`s Manchester City. While that win already represents a significant achievement for the club internationally, securing a spot in the top four would be an even greater milestone under his new leadership.
Prediction
Following their impressive and unexpected victory against Manchester City, Al-Hilal is now expected by many to overcome the Brazilian side on Friday and advance to face either Chelsea or Palmeiras in the semifinal.
Predicted Score: Al-Hilal 2, Fluminense 1.
