The quarter-finals of the Club World Cup feature two teams who delivered major upsets in the previous round. Fluminense secured their spot by defeating 2025 Champions League finalist Inter 2-0 last Monday, while Simone Inzaghi`s Al-Hilal surprised everyone with a stunning 4-3 victory over Manchester City. As these unexpected quarter-finalists meet, one is guaranteed a place in the tournament`s top four and will face the winner of the match between Chelsea and Palmeiras later on Friday night.
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.
Player to Watch
Bono, Al-Hilal
The Moroccan goalkeeper was exceptional in the round of 16 clash against Manchester City, making several crucial saves throughout the match that were pivotal to the Saudi team`s unexpected win. If Simone Inzaghi`s side progresses to the top four of the tournament, a significant part of that success will be attributed to their goalkeeper`s incredible performances.
Storyline to Watch
Can Inzaghi make history already?
The Italian coach took charge of Al-Hilal just before the start of the Club World Cup, having recently departed from Inter. He made an immediate impact, leading Al-Hilal to a world-shocking 4-3 victory against Pep Guardiola`s Manchester City in the round of 16. While this result is already by far the club`s best international achievement, reaching the top four would represent an even greater milestone under his new leadership.
Prediction
Following their impressive 4-3 win against Manchester City, the Saudi team is now expected to win against the Brazilian side on Friday and advance to face either Chelsea or Palmeiras in the semi-final.
Predicted Score: Al-Hilal 2, Fluminense 1.
