Borussia Dortmund are in a strong position to defeat Mamelodi Sundowns in Cincinnati but are facing significant pressure to come out on top after their unsatisfactory goalless draw with Fluminense.
BVB did not perform well against the Brazilian team and will need to step up their game against the Sundowns, who currently lead Group F after their 1-0 victory against Ulsan, showing that they will present a tough challenge at TQL Stadium.
Team news
Sundowns' manager, Miguel Cardoso, is hoping to stick with the same winning lineup as all his players trained fully on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Dortmund's manager, Niko Kovac, might consider making changes after a poor showing against Fluminense. Despite the absences of Emre Can and Nico Schlotterbeck, he has the option to start players like Jobe Bellingham, Jamie Gittens, and Felix Nmecha to freshen up the team.
The stats
Mamelodi Sundowns have won the South African championship 18 times, including the last eight titles.
Forwards Iqraam Rayners and Lucas Ribeiro have scored a total of 43 goals this season.
Dortmund ended their domestic season with a six-game winning streak, scoring at least three goals in each of those matches.
The goalless draw with Fluminense was the first time they failed to score in seven games.
Prediction
Borussia Dortmund did not try to make excuses for their lackluster performance in the previous Club World Cup match against Fluminense, where they struggled to a 0-0 draw at the MetLife Stadium.
After a month without football, they may have been rusty, and the match should have helped to shake off the cobwebs.
However, following their difficulties against Fluminense, fans are justified in questioning whether they have what it takes to defeat Group F leaders Mamelodi Sundowns.
If doubts persist, it is hard to feel confident in betting on a Dortmund victory.
Mamelodi impressed with their win over Ulsan HD, led by a strong lineup which includes Chilean Marcelo Allende and Brazilian talents Lucas Ribeiro and Arthur Sales.
While they provided Ulsan with opportunities, they showed enough quality to be trusted to put up a fight in the upcoming match against strong opponents like Serhou Guirassy.
Expect Mamelodi Sundowns to secure a 2-0 victory on the handicap, where a win, draw, or even a one-goal loss will be considered a winning outcome.